The Moravian Teachers' Choir
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| Pěvecké sdružení moravských učitelů |
Today I was surprised by my postman with this wonderful postcard by Alfons Mucha. He made this litograph in 1911 for the Moravian Teachers' Choir (Pěvecké sdružení moravských učitelů). There is little information about this piece, which isn't as wide known as many of his other works. The Moravian Teachers' Choir performed many types of song, including folk music by Moravian composer Janáček. The girl in the poster wears a folk costume from Kyjov, Moravia (Czech Republic).
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| Dress by Balenciaga (1948-50) |
This is a design by Balenciaga -- the original belongs to the Fashion Museum in Madrid, Spain (Museo del Traje). It's part of a sheet of four stamps entitled Moda Española. The sheet is illustrated by clothes worn according to different hours of the day, and so the 0.39€ stamp reproduces a cocktail chantilly lace dress over transparent ivory taffeta, with tight waistline and full skirt. It was made in Paris between 1948-1950.
The other three stamps show a two-piece suit (0.42 €), a morning dress and matching coat (0.58 €) and a casual shirt dress (0.78 €).
Needless to say, I am mesmerized by this beautiful little piece of art. ♪
Merci beaucoup, Fabienne!!Postcard from: Madrid, Spain.
Received: March 2012.
Language: Spanish.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 0.39€ Museo del Traje.
8 postmarks
I always enjoy reading your background stories of the cards. And I'm really jealous that you can send postcards for just 39 cents - I have to pay 45 cents.
ReplyDeleteActually national postage is 36 cents. Bear in mind that salaries in Spain are way lower than German wages -- no reason to be jealous at all!
DeleteI love Alphonse Mucha's works, this one too even though I've never seen it before. The stamp is wonderful!
ReplyDeletePostage in France is 60c priority and 57 economy! In the UK, it's 55c and 44c - roughly converted.
Well, it looks like Spanish postage is one of the cheaper in Europe! However in Portugal it's even lower. I envy those priority stamps (and stickers!), we don't have economy/priority classes.
DeleteI love Mucha, too, and only recently bought a few postcards with his work. I've not seen this one though--very nice. The Balenciaga stamp is very cool, too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know this piece before I received the card either. As far as I know, it belongs to a private collector and so I guess it hasn't been exhibited often. If you take a better look, the lines at the top of the card aren't straight: this is the only image available of this litograph!
DeleteThe stamp is a lovely little piece of art in my opinion -- both philatelic and textile.
Glad you received the card and that you like it as well as the stamp. The 4 stamps "Moda española", issued in 2007, are really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love both! Owning this little known work of Mucha makes me feel some kind of pride and at the same time having a Balenciaga (even if I can't wear it!) is very exciting. :-)
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