WAR 14-18 / Important and unique collection of 450 postcards - Lot 339

WAR 14-18 / Important and unique collection of 450 postcards from the period when the town of Laon (Aisne) was occupied by the German Army for 49 months, from September 2, 1914 to October 18, 1918. These postcards were published by the Germans and most of them traveled (thus with correspondence from German soldiers and officers to their families, with military franking), 90 are real photos (printed in small numbers), 50 are in booklets, 20 are illustrated by Karl Lotz (who was mobilized at the time) - this is an exceptional, lively record of the period, with military scenes, animated views of the town and German signs; the occupation was long, so many German publishers were involved in distributing souvenirs to be sent to families: Gisser (Leizig), Heiss (Cologne), V. Knackstedt (Hamburg), Henrich Knobloch (Blasewitz), Lehmann (Munich), K. Messer (Rabenau), E. Richter (Leizig), Stengel (Dresden), Karl Voegels (Berlin), Dr Treukler (Leipzig) and others.