Bidspirit auction | Antique Topographic and Architectural Postcard

Antique Topographic and Architectural Postcard Album (France and Switzerland, circa 1900–1920) – Grande Chartreuse Monastery, Hautecombe Abbey, Lake Landscapes, and Marble Funerary Sculpture - A monumental, rich, and exceptional collection of landscape, architectural, and historical tourism postcards from the early twentieth century (the golden age of postcards / La Belle Époque). The complete collection is housed in an original large pocket album comprising over 32 pages filled on both sides (64 postcards), presenting museum-quality photogenic documentation of religious sites, secluded monasteries, and the natural scenery of the French Alps and the Swiss border. Album and Postcard Contents (Key Points): Interior Architecture and Secluded Monasteries: A rare series of postcards documenting the interior of the Grande Chartreuse monastery, including its vast historic library, decorated stained-glass windows, inner chapels, and chapter hall. Also included are exterior facade views and general views of the monastery set in the heart of the mountains. Museum-Quality Marble Sculpture: Postcards presenting the artworks and magnificent funerary sculpture from Hautecombe Abbey (the burial site of members of the Royal House of Savoy), including the celebrated Pietà sculpture and Gothic marble effigies of members of the dynasty. Lake and Natural Landscapes: Panoramic views of Lake Geneva, Lac du Bourget, mountain waterfalls, and wildlife postcards depicting the fauna of the Alps (golden eagle and alpine marmot). Many additional types and categories are represented, offering a rich assortment of postcards.  Printing Types: A rich variety ranging from sharp sepia (antique-brown) photographs, classic black-and-white prints, and early color lithograph postcards. Among the publishers identifiable are the following: * The J.J. imprint (Jacques Jas / Jacques Jilber): one of the most famous and prolific French topographic postcard publishers of the early twentieth century (the J.J. lettering appears clearly at the foot of the postcards, for example on a plate depicting the CHINDRIEUX area, number 2831). * The ERGE imprint: another well-known French firm from the same period, whose name is embossed in the corners of some of the interior postcards in the album. The album is sold in good condition. The postcards are preserved in good to very good condition within the original slot corners, clean, free of tears, and free of fading. The album binding is an original hard cover in dark olive green, showing light and natural age marks on the exterior (light abrasions on the spine, as documented in the photographs). The interior cardboard pages and slot corners are fully complete and stable, securely holding the large volume of pages. 17 cm. 523 g.