Birthday greetings - (illustrated is upper part of card). Plain but nevertheless well done card. Most embossed details are covered with bronze. The two larger flowers were affixed and given the same colours of the smaller (litho) printed one. Both appear to made sort of pressed cotton wool covered with thin cloth. P/u in Germany in Sept. 1902.

Greetings from... - with sort of a bucket arranged by dry pieces of plants and some artificial stuff. Not ot forget the pink ribbon. In no way attractive anymore. Some part haven fallen off, the glue has aged and dust or dirt has stuck to it. Not p/u, undivided back = of pre-1905 origin. A protected novelty of “Ernst Unkel” from Duesseldorf (D.R.G.M. 133?77)

“Ladies on the beach” - typical chromolitho, not signed, p/u in Hungary in Oct. 1900.

Joyeuses Pâques - Angels ringing bells. Signed “Mar” (?). Printed in Belgium. Logo could read “Colonriit” Special? Very faint. Card. no. 4390. Offset printed. Not p/u. Guess from 1930’s or later. Most outlines and ropes are embellished with mica. Not an easy job.

The entire dress of both ladies is covered closely with very small “glass” pearls. Being almost transparent it is difficult to show here. The colours of the detail illustration were worked on, especially the darker portion gives you some idea of the unusual look. Not a glitter effect as with mica, but these “pearls” appear to stick better at their place. Have several more samples.

Sevilla - with flamenco dancer and bull-fight poster in background. The blouse and skirt are embroidered, very carefully, with a metallic-look thread. The card itself was offset printed. There is also illegible signature found at lower right corner. If the number “39” found next to Sevilla, is a card number or perhaps stands for the year is unclear. Not p/u. Printed in Spain. Publisher: Postales CEME, Madrid.

Young girl with wine bottle - this is a luxury card indeed. Similar cards are known where the background is covered by a thin metal foil. Here it this printed golden / bronze. Very carefully embossed with delicate line pattern. The image done by chromolithography and covered with glossy finish (celluloid). Truly a masterpiece of a deluxe paper manufacturer. The design was protected under the name “Favorit”, bears the series no. 8508 but no publisher imprint. However, the address side layout looks very much like that of HWB = Hermann Wolff, Berlin. Not p/u, c. 1906.

My final tax-free match – dedicated to the tax payers. Attached is an original match, guess it still works? Interesting card with a number of matchbox labels illustrated. Published by ‘Themal’ from the city of Posen (Tx. code). Printed by collotype with litho colouring and caption imprinted by letterpress process. Not p/u, divided back, should date from pre WW1 years. Wonder if the match was still affixed when card was delivered by post man...