1900 Bourges France Vintage Postcard, House of the White Queen

About This Vintage Postcard

Step back into the medieval streets of Bourges with this evocative view of the House of the White Queen. This architectural treasure dates back to around 1488 and is an exceptional example of late fifteenth century timber framed design. The facade is famous for its intricate woodcarvings including twisted pillars and expressive figures carved into the structural beams. At the time of the photograph that was used to produce this phototypie,  the historic site served a surprisingly modern purpose as a local cycle and repair shop. A prominent cycles sign hangs from the upper story illustrating how ancient French landmarks were integrated into the daily commerce of the early twentieth century.

Details

Era: Undivided Back (c. 1900–1903)
City: Bourges
State or Region: Cher, Centre-Val de Loire
Country: France
Topic: House of the White Queen, Medieval Bourges, Timber Framed Architecture, Antique Bicycle Shop, French Heritage
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: undivided back
Orientation: Vertical (Portrait)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: M. T. I. L. (Maurice Tesson, Limoges)
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Collotype

Additional Information

The publisher imprint M. T. I. L. identifies the firm of Maurice Tesson. This card is an undivided back format which was the required style in France until late 1903. The text on the reverse states that the side is exclusively reserved for the address. This forces the sender to write any message on the front image side. The house is located on Rue Gambon and is linked by legend to Queen Blanche of Castile. The presence of the bicycle shop highlights a transitional period where medieval buildings were repurposed for early mechanical industries. The collotype process perfectly captures the weathered texture of the ancient oak beams and the fine details of the gothic sculptures.

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