The most recent articles

• Laos Dien Bien Phu in color and black and white

  7 July

  Laos: The Forgotten Postcard Land
  A Rare and Discreet Land While Vietnam and Cambodia flood the postcard market, Laos remains a rare find. Why? This land of mountains and rivers, nestled between three powerful kingdoms, has always stood apart. With fewer people, less colonization, and a scarcity of officials or merchants, Laos escaped the cultural and commercial buzz of its neighbors. Here, kings were minor figures, and history unfolded quietly in the shadow of giants.
  Explorers Behind the Camera This very elusiveness shaped how Laos was captured on film. Photographers were few—often (…)

• Cauvin - Deer Hunt

  6 July

  This card is likely one of Cauvin-father’s earliest, from 1916 and printed by a Japanese firm.
  The image captures three soldiers who have just brought down a deer in the hills of Cap Saint-Jacques. They wear collar insignia—though the details are barely visible here. A note on another card even suggests the standing hunter may be the photographer himself. To hunt and own a personal rifle, they would have had to be officers or NCOs.
  But why a Japanese printer? In 1916, Japan stood as France’s ally in World War I. Though trade with Europe was strained, Tokyo used this alliance to deepen (…)

• Dieulefils and color

  5 July

  Now to Dieulefils. This card dates from 1920, a full decade after Fievet’s and Raquez’s. As a renowned publisher with both the expertise and the resources, Dieulefils delivered quality colorization—and the proof is right before your eyes. Behold!

• Alfred Raquez in color

  4 July

  We have examined the color postcards of Fievet, Planté, and Demange—now let’s turn to Raquez.
  Now, after Fievet, Planté, and Demange, we look at Raquez.
  At the time, color postcards were a premium product, and publishers kept a close eye on the competition. Raquez—or rather, those who published his work after his death—followed the trend.
  His cards, divided into six series (A to F) around 1908, show no clear organizational logic. Likely compiled by someone unfamiliar with Laos, its culture, or its customs, the arrangement often feels arbitrary. Why is this image here and that one (…)

• Our soldiers

  3 July

  This card is by Victor Demange, part of a short series he devoted to Vietnamese or Chinese riflemen.
  The cards are hand-colored, with pale tints so distinctive to Demange that his style is unmistakable at a glance.
  But the most striking feature is the view itself. Look closely—doesn’t it seem familiar?
  To our surprise, while reviewing our cards of the riflemen, we discovered this one is actually a copy of an earlier edition published by Jumillard a decade before. Look closely!
  Magical

• Phnom Penh - Buddhist Procession

  2 July

  Today, we travel to Cambodia with photographer Victor Fievet—a small-scale publisher who captured Vietnam and Cambodia on film.
  Here, a Buddhist procession appears on a hand-colored card. The colors bleed and are misaligned, resulting in a sloppy finish that fails to do the scene justice.
  Next summer
  Previous summer

• Two postcards "La Sarcelle"

  1 July

  Two postcards by Victor Planté taken in Saigon.
  One, numbered 91, captures the scene after the market: unsold goods had to be packed away, the space cleaned, waste removed, and everything packed up. Straw parasols marked out the selling area—likely a necessity in the heat, shielding both vendors, customers, and the merchandise.
  The other postcard, more conventional, depicts the Governor-General’s palace. The image reveals a majestic building, its grandeur emphasized by the garden in front of the staircase, the large wrought-iron gate, and the vast, empty square at the moment the photo (…)

• A Postcard a Day, A Journey Through Time

  29 June

  Discover Indochina: One Postcard a Day
  This July and August, journey through time with rare postcards and unseen archives from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. From July 1 to August 31, each day brings a new postcard and its story—historical anecdotes, expert insights, and the occasional hidden detail.
  Explore visual treasures from the early 1900s to the 1950s, alongside modern creations inspired by the region. Each week, we’ll highlight a legendary publisher or photographer, sharing fresh perspectives on their craft and legacy.
  Why join the journey?
  – A daily blend of nostalgia, (…)

• Laos, Confessions of a 70s School Rebel

  27 April

  Where Were You in the 1970s, We See You, Sam! ?
  Racing your rusty bike like a madman through the streets of Vientiane, or trying not to laugh as your French teacher conjugated avoir in the passé simple?
  Well, take a good look!
  – Front row: 8th from the right… or maybe 12th from the left? (We know you *still* mix up left and right, even in gym class.)
  – Second row: 5th from the left… the one who looks lost in thought, staring at the horizon—or just got scolded for doodling an elephant in their notebook.
  So, who is it?
  Billy, the marble champion and hide-and-seek king?
  Jamie, the (…)

• Japonese Consulate

  20 April

  Japanese Courtesans in Indochina: Myth or Historical Reality?
  They were Japanese, and they were regarded as courtesans… Their charm and presence captivated both French military officers and colonists in Indochina. Rumors painted them as modern-day Mata Haris—accused of using pillow talk to gather intelligence for the Japanese government, which had growing interests in Vietnam at the time. But what was the truth? Were these women mere legends, or did they play a real role in the shadows of history?
  The Enigmatic Postcards
  The postcards attributed to Pierre Marie Dieulefils, depicting (…)