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The French game in postcards.
The French invented the postcard at the back-end of the 19th Centaury, they where the first to put their teams and players on to postcards. You will see that French flair and style in the quality of their cards, which is of course reflected in the way they play the game. The price of cards in France can vary but the quality is always there and it shows how over the years they have used their cards to advertise and promote the game, as well as a verity of products.
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| A card from the 1924 Olympics in Paris this card says it all about the French and postcards | Alfred Masse French international 1908. Was he the first man to play in white boots? | Using children and rugby to advertise the Red Cross in France | A drinks advert for "Trilles" what else would one drink at half time! | Max Rousie International rugby player, the ball, badge and even his hair-cut have that French style. |
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| A. S. Biterroise Rugby team 1961 champions of France. | Football Club Digoinais season 1936-37 | Rugby Cote Basque 1937 - 38 finalists. | Small postcard "Un passe du Rugby" | Pernod advertising card "equipe de la section paloise" |
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| Card 1 of 5 showing the 1909 French Cup final. "A ball in touch" | 2 of 5 Played on 4th April 1909 - Toulouse playing Arret | 3 of 5 shows the art of "dribling" by Toulouse | 4 of 5 the Toulouse team after the game. | Les Toulouse 1st team 1909 |
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| Advert card for "hotel De France" in Bougie. 1907 | Racing Club de France invitation to play in 1922 | Tinted card "Union Sportive Cordaise - Equipe 1" nice berets | Les sports - Rugby "Un Tenu" - 1904 | 1912 - Gloucester playing in France only 14 men and a dog. |
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| card sent to Liverpool in 1912 "Un essai au Rugby" | Les sports - Rugby "Un Plaquage inevitable" | 1919 - Paris University Club | Toulouse again this time in 1904 | No name for this team, but look at the socks on the player in the front row. |
These item have been sent to me by a friend in France (Thank-you Frederic) and show further rugby related items, postcards, trade cards and magazines. I am told that rugby related items fetch a high premium in France and are in fact difficult to find. Still it's nice to get a look at someone else's collection, even if only across the web. If you would like to share your collection, email me at referee@ovalballs.com all I need are the scans and a few words.
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| 1. Art deco PC from an original photo. Teams are Stade Français and Racing Club de France, ie "classical" Parisian derby at the turn of the Century | 2. Comic card c.1910 I guess.
The ball is round but it looks like rugby....
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3. "Football de Salon"
a great artwork (poor scan...)approx 80cm x 50 cm
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4. Comic from MORRIS. early
1900s
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5. advertising postcard for
PETROLE HAHN. Looks like football but the ball is oval !
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6. the Game. Not sure about the
date, late 30s ?
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| 7. One of my favorites.
Advertising postcard for retail store LA SAMARITAINE ("grand magasin"). Early 1900s ? |
8. strange card ! the whole
French army "etat major" (HQ) in 1914 playing rugby with the Kaiser's head... |
9. late 30s comic card about
rugby league (XIII)
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10.RPPC "les sports -
rugby". (probably goes with one that you have published on your site "un placage inévitable") |
11. "Arcueil : une partie
de football". The young guy who sent the card in 1906 is the one on the picture where the is a hand written mark.... |
12. Stade Français 1905
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| 13 Stade Français 1915
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14. SCUF 1915 - one of the oldest
team in France
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15.Toulouse 1912
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16. Perpignan XIII late 30s
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17. Biscuits Pernot 1905
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18. Chocolat SUCHARD
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| 19. Chocolat SUCHARD
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18. Au Bon Marché (retail
store / no date but old...)
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21. retailer FELIX POTIN, feat.
player AMAND, a famous prop from Stade Français (nice moustaches...) |
22. Fabiano 1930, from a
magazine similar to Punch
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23. I like that one. WW1
postward showing wounded soldiers (brit and scot at the back, in kilt) ready to play the Game |
24. Gazette du Bon Ton 1914.
Actually a fashion magazine, but a real nice
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| 25. Mich Rugby. c1910 A
advertsing print 60cm x 40 cm for the next Sunday rugby game in Chartres. |
26. Petit Journal april 1921
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27. Petit Journal january 1922
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Have a look at the history of the Rugby Postcard here:- Postcard History
There are 19 French home programmes on this page have a look, I like the way that the programmes reflect the style and artwork of the times:-Programme-list-2