This week we are very happy to present the first of our series of postcards from the mcarpedi Collection. The man behind the collection is Erik Verhaest from France. We asked him to tell us about the above postcard, which is one of his favorites. Verhaest delights in the details. The location is Tougues par Chens (Haute Savoie), Hôtel Ecaille d’Argent. “Every postcard tells a story, some more than others. I liked the Alfa and the Citroën in the same photo, but looking closer, you discover that the Citroën DS (1956/57) has a ‘CC’ license plate, ‘Corps Consulaire’? Could it be the Italian consul with his body guards in the Alfa? The people on the terrace are ladies with nice hats and men with military caps. I can smell their food 60 years later. The hotel still exists. One day I will go there with the postcard and ask for a plate of spaghetti!” Click card to go to mcarpedi.com.
As a europhile and owner of two citroens and two alfas I love this card. Oh to have a time machine to teleport into this scene.
Speaking of French Postcards, I have a collection of less than a dozen, bought in Monaco in 1959. They are miniatures , 10.5x 15cm of Monaco Grand Prix posters from 1930 to 1957. I bought them at the Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo.
I am willing to sell them as a group if anyone is interested
Jerry Lehrer
Speaking of French Postcards, I have a collection of eight, bought in Monaco in 1959. They are miniatures , 10.5x 15cm of Monaco Grand Prix posters from 1930 to 1957. I bought them at the Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo.
I am willing to sell them as a group if anyone is interested
Jerry Lehrer
The registration of the DS is a regular one from Haute-Savoie. The Corps Consulaire plate is a separate, little ovale green plate with only two black letters: CC. The CC plate comes as an addition to the regular plate.
We think Patrick is correct here (as usual) and we added a question mark to the description. Our next Mcardpedi postcard will involve a mystery car and contest, so stay tuned!
The Citroen is a DS de first série , the French registration is from the department of Haute Savoie made in January 1957, CC was for diplomat and beside the registration in a small oval .