1904 The Archbishop's Gate Yonne France Postcard TVC
About This Vintage Postcard
Witness the intricate grandeur of 18th-century French ironwork with this striking monochrome postcard of the gates at the Archbishop's Palace in Sens. This "Timbre Côté Vue" (TCV) card features the ornate wrought iron grill known as "La Grille de l’Archevêché," which prominently displays the cardinal arms of Monseigneur Louis-Joseph de Luynes, who served as Archbishop of Sens from 1753 to 1788. The craftsmanship is a masterpiece of the late Baroque and early Neoclassical transition, topped by a tall crucifix and a complex overthrow of scrolled ironwork. This specific card is part of the esteemed "Collection LL" (Léon & Lévy), capturing the architectural heritage of one of France's most historically significant religious centers at the turn of the 20th century.
Details
Era: Divided Back (1904–1910)
City: Sens
State or Region: Yonne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Country: France
Topic: Sens Archbishop's Palace, Cardinal de Luynes, French Ironwork, Religious Architecture, TCV Postcard
Condition: Circulated (TCV style)
Postage: 15c Green Pasteur stamp; postmarked Sens, Yonne, May 6, 1923
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Vertical (Portrait)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown (Collection LL)
Publisher: Lévy Fils et Cie, Paris (Trademark: LL)
Printer: Lévy et Neurdein Réunis
Print Type: Collotype
Additional Information
The "Timbre Côté Vue" (TCV) style shown here was a popular fad where senders placed the stamp on the image side, a practice that persisted even after divided backs became standard. The address side features a handwritten message in French: "Bon et affectueux souvenir" (Kind and affectionate memory), sent to Mademoiselle Bernadou at 25 Avenue de Wagram in Paris. The publisher logo "LL" at the bottom right represents the famous Paris firm of Léon & Lévy. Founded in 1864, the company eventually merged with the Neurdein brothers' studio in 1920 to form Lévy et Neurdein Réunis, which explains the late 1923 postmark on this earlier card design. The card is marked "Modèle Déposé" with a small logo, indicating a registered and protected design.
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