France - Northern France & the Opal Coast - Superb lot of 118 CPA/CPSM collectibles: Old Trades, Large - Postcard (118) - 1904-2002

Magnificent and very important homogeneous collection of 118 collectible postcards, with a strong philatelic, historical, and marcophilic interest. This high-standing lot offers a memorable, urban, and architectural crossing of nearly a century at the heart of the Nord department and the Opal Coast. It covers the period from 1904 (oldest CPA) to the early 2000s (newest CPSM), combining prestigious old postcards (CPA) animated by the Belle Époque and splendid semi-modern (CPSM) colored series.
• COMPOSITION AND KEY STRENGTHS OF THE LOT BY LOCALITY:
• LE TOUQUET-PARIS-PLAGE & WIMEREUX (Série Prestige & Sports d'Antan): Splendid high-end section highlighting old maritime trades of the era (shrimpers/female shrimpers / filet drivers) and the famous fashionable sports of the Belle Époque: Tennis tournaments (Collection LL), Polo matches, the Links golf course, and gatherings at the racecourse. Beautiful depictions of grand horse teams (Les Drags en Forêt), riders under pine trees, kiosks and portraits in traditional Matelottes costumes. Also includes an old aerial view of Wimereux by the famous pilot R. Henrard.
• BERGUES (Nord): Magnificent World War I collection including the rare official series “BERGUES bombardée - May-June 1915” (damage to the Town Hall, Canals, Vauban Gates). Major marcophile asset: Rare round postmarks of the Belgian Army’s Military Post in Campaign (1915) with lettered correspondence sent free of charge to England. Beautiful views of the famous Belfry (UNESCO).
• CASSEL (Mont-Cassel): Splendid panoramas of the plain, typical architecture of the Noble Court (hawk’s-beak gables), the Porte d’Aire, the old mills, and the monument to Marshal Foch. Presence of the pioneer CPA in the lot dated on the recto February 1904 and versos with local trade marks (Coudekerque-Branche, 1910).
• CALAIS (Maritime, Urban & Modern History): Very important series (strong presence of the prestigious LL Collection). Animated Belle Époque views with old electric and horse-drawn trams, the port and its cross-channel steamers (Maritime Station, Steamer “Le Nord” at the quay). Recent contemporary CPSM color section including the Town Hall, the Charles and Yvonne de Gaulle statue, the Flower Clock, sailors’ folk costumes, and modern ferries (SeaFrance, 1990s/2002). War ruins on Rue de la Citadelle (LL).
• DUNKIRK & MALO-LES-BAINS: Beautiful thematic series on the City of Jean Bart (Epigraph at the heart of Saint-Éloi Church, Leughenaer Tower, animation of the Malo-les-Bains market). Artistic gem: Beautiful reissue of the famous 1930 Art Deco railway poster signed by master Roger Broders (Collection La Vie du Rail).
• POSTAL HISTORY AND INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS:
The lot shines with the richness of its backs and era-era correspondences. Exceptional presence of a rare 1910 correspondence sent to Buenos Aires (Argentine Republic). Many cards also circulated to Belgium (Liège, Mons, Moorsele, Gembloux with superb arrival postmarks of the period) or to England and the Netherlands (Maastricht).

all the cards are scanned
shipment by bpost with signature and insurance