Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War Postcard of the 'Place Du Sud Charlerol', Belgium

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Ern Thill

c. 1914

Overview

A black and white artistic postcard depicting a town centre with a large central square and European brick buildings surrounding the area. There is a bandstand structure situated on the left of the square and a road runs around the open square. The central square is lined by a large crowd who are watching a ball game (the popular balle pelote a traditional Belgian ball game) that ten men are playing. Other people are walking on the street and some sitting at cafes outside the buildings. The postcard is in very good condition with no damage. The front is printed with a description of the image, and the reverse has proforma printing.

Historical information

Charleroi is in the Belgian province of Hainault in Wallonia, about 60 km south of Brussels. This image is a vintage postcard depicting Place du Sud (now Place Verte) in Charleroi, Belgium, circa 1914. The scene captures a popular balle pelote (a traditional Belgian ball game) match occurring in the town square.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2022.1.148

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Card

Width

136 mm

Height or length

87 mm

Inscriptions and markings

In machine printing, on the front, “Charlerol Place du Sud. Le Jue de Balle.” On the reverse “Ern. Thill. rue Simonis. 20-22. Bruxelles.”

Contextual information

Ern. Thill (Nels), Bruxelles was founded by photographer Edouard and Paul Nels in 1898 from in Bruxelles. The firm became the largest producer of postcards in Belgium, together with maps and guidebooks. The brand has continued intermittently into modern times with varied subjects and new (French) owners.

Keywords

First World War

Egypt

Place made

Belgium

Year

c. 1914

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Well provenanced