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an old photo of a bunch of old postcards with pictures of peoplean image of a bunch of old papers sitting on top of a table
Balsan Encheres

815 - BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE (91) – “Coat of arms: Campaign 1914–1915–1…
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Estimate €200
Sale commission
Description
BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE (91) – “Coat of arms: Campaign 1914–1915–1916” MILITARY PROVISIONS STATION AND STORE ( * ) - a rare and historic set of 13 (thirteen) postcards, featuring beautiful, well-captured close-ups with lively captions, which belonged to a soldier stationed in Brétigny in 1916: soldiers standing to attention with their officer in front of the station’s entrance gate, wood-splitting machines, coffee roasting, the interior of the camp and the barracks (2 different views), the camp kitchens, the administration office, unloading of wagons, the bakeries, the imposing timber yard (2 different views), scorching the barrels, setting off for the showers. Several cards feature letters from the soldier to his wife or son: “These are the wood-splitters splitting wood for the furnaces, and we need a lot of it...My dear wife, I’m surprised not to have received a single letter from you since Tuesday the 27th…”. “The barracks where I sleep is marked with a cross; there are 60 of us in there. Give my little Raoul a kiss—he must be getting rather cute by now…Don’t lose the postcards I’m sending you, as I intend to keep them...” – “That’s the unloading of the green coffee beans they’re burning for the front.” - “The bakery where I work is marked with a cross; they’re wooden huts. 21 June 1916: I received your letter yesterday along with your note, and I’m really looking forward to hearing from you...” - “6 January, dear parents: tell my little Raoul that he’s looking for me on this postcard...” - “7 April 1918: my dear little lad, I’m sending you this little postcard to wish you a happy birthday. I think that now that you’re turning eight, you’ll be even cuter and that you’ll carry on learning well, because you’re almost a little man now; give everyone a big kiss from me” (sic). ( * ) Supply depot of the 5th French Army at Brétigny: situated about a hundred kilometres from the front line, it played a major role in supporting the front by supplying and producing provisions for the soldiers and horses, which involved a processing chain from raw materials right through to regular distribution. They received raw materials from across the country, processed them and dispatched them to the distribution station assigned to each army. There were 17 supply stations in 1914.
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About the sale SALE OF COINS, BANKNOTES, MEDALS, CIVILIAN AND MILITARY HEADGEAR, INSIGNIA AND DECORATIONS – lots 300 to 598 Followed by OLD PAPERS, PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS, DOCUMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS – Lots 599 to 862
Auction location
Auction time 10/20/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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