1927 Reims Cathedral Reconstruction in France Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

Witness a monumental moment in architectural history with this evocative monochrome postcard of the Reims Cathedral under reconstruction. The image captures the "Martyred Cathedral" in a state of rebirth, showing extensive scaffolding atop the nave where the new roof, known as the "Couverture de la Cathédrale," is being installed. This massive restoration project was significantly made possible by a generous donation from American philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., whose "Don Rockefeller" funded over 37% of the total costs after the building was devastated by German shelling during World War I. The scene illustrates the replacement of the original 15th-century oak beams with an innovative fire-resistant reinforced cement framework, ensuring that this sacred site of French royal coronations would endure for future generations.

Details

Era: Divided Back (1927)
City: Reims
State or Region: Marne, Grand Est
Country: France
Topic: Reims Cathedral, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Restoration, Gothic Architecture, WWI Reconstruction, French History
Condition: Circulated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Vertical (Portrait)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Editions « OR », Ch. Brunel - Matougues (Trademark: OR)
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Collotype

Additional Information

The "Don Rockefeller" mentioned on the front refers to the substantial gifts made by John D. Rockefeller Jr. starting in 1924 to restore French national monuments. This specific card features a handwritten message in French dated "29 Dec" (likely 1927, during the peak of the roof reconstruction). The sender, Clémence, writes to Georgette and Renée about being very busy with "the little ones" and explains why a previous letter hadn't been sent. The publisher, "Editions OR," was operated by Ch. Brunel in Matougues and specialized in documenting the monumental task of rebuilding Reims. Interestingly, the top of the address side still bears the warning "Aucune inscription n'est admise du côté de la Vue," a holdover from earlier postal regulations, even though the card is clearly from the divided-back era.

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