“A Pigeon’s Letter” — Souvenir Card of the Siege of Paris, 1870–71

Description

Printed commemorative card issued by the London Stereoscopic Company as a memento of the Franco-Prussian War, marking the period during which Paris, under Prussian siege, was cut off from the outside world and dependent on carrier pigeons for communication. The card bears a mounted microphotograph reproduction of a page of The Times of London, photographically reduced for despatch by pigeon post into the besieged capital.
The printed text reads: "A PIGEON'S LETTER. A Memento of the Great War of 1870–1 when Paris, for several months, depended solely on the carrier pigeons for all information from the outer world. 'The Times' containing several columns of French advertisements, &c., to relatives in Paris. This photograph was sent to M. Gambetta for transmission by pigeon from Bordeaux. When received in the Bureau at Paris, it is magnified, by the aid of the magic lantern, to an enormous size and thrown upon a screen. A staff of clerks immediately transcribe the messages, and send them off to the parties indicated." Imprinted at the foot: "Stereoscopic Co. — Copyright."