191 Cauterets - Chiens des Pyrenees

I waited a long time to add this rare vintage card to my collection.  It is probably the oldest one I have dating back to the late 1800s.  It has an undivided back which places it prior to 1907 and the wording on the back "Ce cote est exclusivement reserve a l'adresse" puts the card in the 1881 time period.  When I first saw this card in 2004 it went on auction for $56.00 (US dollars) to a serious Pyr collector, far too steep for me at that time.  I still paid a hefty price for owning it and would do it again in a heartbeat.  Les Pyrenees Illustrees. Imp. Royer et Cie, Nancy.

80 Chien des Pyrenees BR.

Bloc Freres. Editeurs - Bordeaux.  One of the saddest Pyrenees I have come across while collecting.  I just want to take him home.  His defined face markings are not seen in today's dogs but you often see them in the vintage cards from France and the Pyrenean Mastiffs (Spain) of today.  

74 Les Pyrenees

Types regionaux - Haute Montagne. Cabane de berger.  Editions Chantecler - Pau.  This appears to be a hut where the cheese is produced, with the shepherds cabin in behind.  I'm not an expert on cheese making but there are clues - the milk jugs, the wrapped block of cheese the shepherd appears to be holding, the bag of curds? hanging by the door to drain the liquid.  I am interested in your thoughts on this.

Les Pyrenees - Chien de la Montagne

Another beautiful card from France, postmarked in 1907.  A. Villatte, editione is typed on the bottom of the card but the rest is blocked by the image itself.

164 LOURDES (3 postcards)

Three of my favourite series of cards - Un Eleveur de Chiens de Montagne.  This family gathering of young children, donkeys, dogs and squirming puppies tells a story.   The stoic expressions of the girl in the center, the pouting boy on the right, the very upset baby girl...one wonders what they thought of the photographer taking so many shots.  I feel sorry for the Mom who looks like she has a bit of a handful in her young daughter.  And then there are the men..first there are two, then there is one.  Use your imagination.  These postcards are postmarked 1907 and they are not the only ones from this family grouping.  The others feature only the dogs.

Storing your Postcards

If you are mounting the cards in frames for display or in an album, use photo corners that are archival quality and make sure the pages and/or matts that are touching the cards are of acid free paper.  Display away from direct sunlight as the sun will cause the card to fade and discolour, preferably on an inside wall if you have moisture problems in your home.


If you wish to store your cards in a binder in plastic sleeves, look on the package for PCV Free / Archival Quality pages.  The ones I use are BCW Pro Pages (120 Micron Polypopylene) and are available in many different configurations.  Most vintage postcards can be stored 4 per page side.  The larger (later) cards can either be put in the 3 per page (2 vintage size cards on the top and 1 larger opening on bottom for the bigger card) or in the 2 per page format.  Don't forget the other trade cards - the tea, tobacco, cereal cards that are the size of business cards...the sleeves that baseball/hockey card collectors use are perfect for those.  

Bonne Annee

This card dates from the 1914 to 1930s.  The phrase "Bonne Annee" is embossed onto the card, unlike the etched greetings from a previous post.  This card is hand coloured with dyes.  No identification on the back for publisher.  There is at least one other card in this series...on my wish list to find.