French Channel Islands Postcards.
Les Iles Chausey
Little information about Chausey postcards has been recorded or published in English, to our knowledge. Recent research by a member identified some 44 publishers of Chausey postcards,
Although it is fully envisaged there are more.
As we state on our ‘Welcome’ page, this is an evolving website: any collectors with more information about the postcards of Chausey or indeed any of the French Channel Islands, are very much encouraged to contact us and share their knowledge.
The cards that follow are a representative but by no means comprehensive sample. Many show similar scenes. A very popular theme for many publishers was rock formations, which resembled animals or other objects. Perhaps of more interest are those featuring buildings and the ships that serviced the archipelago.
As we state on our ‘Welcome’ page, this is an evolving website: any collectors with more information about the postcards of Chausey or indeed any of the French Channel Islands, are very much encouraged to contact us and share their knowledge.
The cards that follow are a representative but by no means comprehensive sample. Many show similar scenes. A very popular theme for many publishers was rock formations, which resembled animals or other objects. Perhaps of more interest are those featuring buildings and the ships that serviced the archipelago.
This postcard, number 150, is entitled La pointe du phare and was published by Artaud Frères of Rue de la Métallurgie 44470 Carquefou-Nantes, within the ‘Collection Blondeau’ series. The name ‘Gaby’ appears on the picture side.
Published by Artistique Photos of 40 Rue de Coutances Granville, this postcard is captioned Grand Ile – Descente à la Cale – Le Sand. The legend ‘LL’ appears on the picture side.
Both poorly cut and printed, this postcard was published by A. Besnard of Granville. It is titled Le Sund et la Grand Cale and is numbered 34. A. Besnard was one of the more prolific publishers and many sepia tone cards such as this can be found.
Two postcards published by Emma Besnard of Granville, as indicated by the ‘Emma’ logo on the picture side. The first, number 10, is entitled La Cale aux Canoës while the second, number 35, is captioned Le Village des Blainvillais.
Published by Cie des Arts Photomécaniques of Paris and Strasbourg. It is number 66 and shows Le Port. The card was mailed in August 1952, which is reflected by the dress of those on the quayside. The company used the logo CAP on the rear of their cards.
This postcard was published by Coron of Granville and, as evidenced by the text on the picture side, was numbered 156 and titled Le Village. It was mailed in 1906 and bears part of the Hotel Moulin cachet struck in violet. This cachet was first used in 1906.
Le C.P.A. Published this card in their “La Normandie” series. It is numbered 88, and entitled Le Yacht à vapeur “Ondine” and was mailed in September 1903. The “Ondine” features on a number of cards by other publishers.
A card entitled Le Débarcadère (Vue Aerienne), it was published by Di Mario of Granville/Coudeville.
Entitled Le Sémaphore, a postcard published by Léon Dubois of Granville, note the spelling of Chaussey. The French Government acquired land on Grand Ile from the Pimor family in 1846 to erect both the lighthouse and semaphore station. The card was mailed in December 1912. Cards can also be found bearing the name L. Dubois by the same publisher.
Numbered “65” and published under the Edition EDDE name, this postcard is entitled Vue prise de l’Embarcadère.
An undivided back postcard, this was published by Gallot. Numbered as 7, it shows the “Ondine” once again, as indicated by the title of the card, Le Yacht à vapeur “Ondine”.
A rather attractive postcard published by HLM and numbered 729 in the Côte d’Émeraude series. It is entitled Le Vapeur d’Excursions ‘Jacques-Cartier’ aux Chausey and has an undivided back. The publisher was based in St. Malo and also used the full name H. Le Maillot on some cards.
Entitled La Pointe de la grand ile, it is number 9 in a series published by LAPIE of 125 rue Garibaldi in St Maur It was mailed in September 1962.
This postcard was published by Laurent-Nel of Rennes. Number 813 in a series published by Laurent-Nel of Rennes, this postcard is captioned Le Sund à Mer Basse.
Two examples of the work of E. Lecotteley, one of the more prolific publishers, who was based at 47 rue des Juifs in Granville. Card number 12 in the series is entitled Vue prise du Phare while card number 23 is captioned La Chapelle.
An undivided back postcard, published by Collections ND of Paris, also known as Neurdein Frères or Neurdein Cie, it is number 315 in a series and entitled Embarquement des Passagers pour Granville.
J. Puel, perhaps the most prolific of the early publishers, published this postcard, it is number 19 in a series (with a range from 1 to at least 46 recorded) and entitled Le Phare. The lighthouse was originally built in 1847 but extensively damaged in World War II and needed extensive reconstruction after the war. It was reactivated in 1950 and stands on the highest point of Grand Ile.
A postcard entitled Town Church in Saint-Helier (Jersey) is known of and credited to J. Puel Phot. Granville. The style is exactly the same as that of the Chausey cards. Thus we may reasonably assume J. Puel was based in Granville. Further research or feedback from other collectors may confirm this.
Publisher R. du V. of Granville produced this card which is number 80 in a series. It is entitled L’Hôtel Moulin – Vue prise des Glacis de la Forteresse and was mailed in 1916. Note the ‘Vapeur Postal Iles Chausey’ cachet, which is recorded used from 1912 until the 1920s.
These two aerial view postcards were published by ROY of Granville. They are numbered 463 and 489 and entitled Vue générale and Le Château Renault – Vue áerienne respectively.
Château Renault rose from the ruins of the old fort to become a very substantial mansion and was completed in 1929. It belonged to the Renault vehicle manufacturing family.
Numbered 3 in a series and captioned Ruines du Vieux Château. This postcard was published by R. Serrand of Granville, and was mailed in 1923, it bears a ‘Hotel des Iles’ cachet used only in August that year. The card contrasts well with the previous card after the ruins were rebuilt.
This postcard was published by Touquerant of Granville. It is numbered 6 in a series and entitled Village de pêcheurs.
The work of an unknown publisher but is apparently number 10 in a series. It has an undivided back, is entitled Vue du Port and was mailed in August 1902.
This final postcard is also by an unknown publisher. It is entitled L’Hotel du Fort and was mailed in 1923. It bears a strike of the ‘Hotel du Fort’ cachet in violet, recorded as being in use from 1922 to 1928.
