Figure 1.--Here we see a postcard portrait of a boy mailed from Braila which we believe is in Romania. The portrait was taken in 1906. From the style it could easily have been a French or German boy, suggesting that fashions for affluent families closely followed those in Western Europe. Click on the image to see the back of the postcard. |
Here we see a postcard portrait of a boy mailed from Braila which we believe is in Romania. The portrait was taken in 1906. From the style it could easily have been a French or German boy, suggesting that fashions for affluent families closely followed those in Western Europe.
The snapshot here is a postcard, but not a commercial post card. Photo
processors at the time purchased photographic paper that had printing on the back so that the amateur photographers who took the photograph could mail it to friends. This was very popular ast the time, both in America and Europe. My guess is that poorer countries in Eastern like Romania purchased their photographic paper in France or Germany or other more developed countries. Notice the printing in the upper left hand corner. It is in several languages so the photographic paper can be sold in many different countries. Thus while the paper may have been produced in France. The photograph was probably taken in Romania where it was mailed from.
This photo post-card was sent from Braila, a Romanian city at the Danube. We assume that the photograph was also taken there. We know nothing more about the city at this time.
The postcard was mailed in 1906. We assume that it was taken about the same time.
The boy here appears to be Romanian. We say that not because he looks Romanian or his clothes look Romanian, but because the photograph was masiled from Romania. That presumably means that it was taken there. The portrait was taken in 1906. From the style it could easily have been a French or German boy, suggesting that fashions for affluent families closely followed those in Western Europe.
A French reader writes, "This photograph has a very French look. Notice the croquet stick. Crfoquet at the time was very popular in France. Was croquet
popular in Romania. Also notice the the style of the door and lock. That seems t me typically French. This boy has a real French face. Most Romania are rather
a bit different. The casks for wine are very common in France. Later as here they can be used as a pot for a tree." Well before I figured out where Braila was, I did think tyhis might be French, primarily because of the clothing and the background did niot look German to us. Also note that the card is signed "Masrcel"--a French name.
A Dutch reader tells us, "This is a very interesting card. The written text is in German, written in Gothic script. Unfortunately most of it is written in an illegible handwriting. I have a very hard time deciphering the words. It starts with "Sehr werther Herr Magnussen". That means more or less "very esteemed Mr. Magnussen". The name of that person seems to me more Scandinavian than anything else.
Then I am able to read some of the words like "erlaube mir" (allow me), Only the very end of the card says clearly "hochachtungsvoll" (that means "faithfully yours"). The writer's name seems to be Marcel." One aspect that HBC is unsure about is the address. A reader tells us that it is addressed to "Lelina", another Romanian city.
Another reader tells us it reads, "Sulina" which is a small Romanian city on the Black Sea coast. A German reader tells us, "What a strange text. I could read most words but not all. Just too messy. Some not sense to me making text about a vacation. There is no information about the boy. The card was written to a Mr. Magnussen in Selina or Salina.
I'm not sure about the rest of the address."
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks]
[Long pants suits]
[Knicker suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
[School smocks]
[Sailor suits]
[Pinafores]
[Long stockings]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[Return to the Main Romanian chronology page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Spanish glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]