Poisson d'Avril

So you know the thing about April Fool's Day in the UK... it only lasts until 12 noon? In France, the "fish of april" joke is a full day affair... try to stick a paper fish onto the back of your chosen dupe, and see what happens! These are delightful cards from about 1906, a kinder way of wishing your friends a Happy April 1st. The one from the man was sent to Mademoiselle Renée Denis, 29 rue Mayet, Paris 6th. The one from the woman went to Monsieur Salace, Instituteur in Loigny-la-Bataille, and says "hello and good health to all the family"... neither is signed by its sender.

The photos above are of no. 29 Rue Mayet now (left, taken by Andy RA more of his Paris photos from his table at Chez Dumonet), and Mlle Denis's apartment is above the Pharmacie shop. This second shot uses Google Streetview, and you can look up and down the street, turn around to see Chez D, and even sit at the same table!

Loigny-la-Bataille is a little commune set in the flat fields of the Beauce, the 'breadbasket' of France... (that's my little April Fools blague). Near to Chartres, it has a museum of the 1870 Franco-Prussian war link. I haven't found school teacher M. Salace yet!