Beth over at the Best Hearts are Crunchy has been posting some gorgeous Valentine's Day cards for a few weeks now – with February 14th only ten days away, I was inspired to dig out a vintage romantic postcard from my own collection to share on Postcard Friendship Friday today.
Carrying two postal cancellations - a Florence Railway (Firenze Ferrovia) postmark dated 5 January 1932 and another for its destination Venice (Venezia) on the following day – the stamp is an absolute classic example of the secret language of stamp positions. The 30 cent postage stamp featuring a frontal portrait of Vittorio Emanuele III is shown with the monarch's head a full 90 degrees to the right – a clear message of some sort, but which I've read can mean a variety of romantic things: “love and kisses”; “do you love me?”; “thinking of you”; and on an Italian language website “t'adoro”!
Issued by the Turin-based publisher Fotocelere (1910-1942), it is a gorgeous example of their hand-coloured real photo postcards – I just love the addition of those crimson details on the collar and sleeves!
The Italian verse translates more or less as follows:
Vieni, piccina dallo sguardo arcano,Check out the Vintage Postcard Store for more Vintage Valentine's Day Postcards!
Che di verbene e rose è la gran via,
Dove noi passerem, stretti per mano.
Come, little one with the mysterious gaze,
Along the avenue of verbenas and roses,
Where we will walk together hand in hand.
Find more vintage postcards over at Beth's postcard blog The Best Hearts are Crunchy and join other collectors on Postcard Friendship Friday.
Comments
I think it speaks to the mystery in each of us.
Thank you for posting this fabulous postcard! Happy Valentine's Day, and Happy PFF!
How fun that you are having that coveted snow just now! Do send some my way!