WINDMILLS

Windmills used to be a common look in many countries for centuries. Along the coastal regions, or found on hills and other suitable places to catch the steady wind. Landmarks that were seen from far. Somehow they have a positive image and were therefor often used to greeting cards. Often arranged in background however, giving the picture more depth.

Wind driven mills were not only good to grain but also to saw wood, pump water etc. I live in northwestern Germany and there used to windmills almost in every village. The absolute majority was damaged in WW2. Many had been not in use anyway. The windmills you find today are usually (working) museums and restaurants. Some were rebuilt into exclusive living houses.

Postcards showing windmills are an inexpensive collecting subject, not difficult to find, although good close-up views, real photo or collotype printed are not that common. Mostly you see artist done work. Interesting cards are found under various categories, from art(ist) cards, greetings, topographic or in the ‘cheapo-box’.

Widoki z Krolestwa Polskiego reads the caption which I guess is Polish. No publisher or any other information found on this fine view of a windmill in winter. German fieldpost mailed in May 1917.

> ‘Luft’ (Air) from a series titled “The Four Elements”, water colour artists series published by L. Fraenzi & Co., Munich. No. 1697. The signature reads “Guggenberger” (?). Interesting arranged card. Never seen any other cards from this element series nor have I heard of the publisher before. Card p/u in May 1905. Undivided back.

Young (Dutch) romance in front of a huge windmill. Signed H. Feiertag. Published by B.K.W.I. (Bruder Kohn, Vienna) 922-3. Halftone printed in Austria. Card p/u in Nov. 1908

< Greetings from... A real nice piece, although the windmill is surely no beauty. This is a bas relief card, the scan does not show the rich details and skilled production. An E. Buettner & Co., Berlin, chromolitho process printed card with number 9571. P/u on Dec. 23, 1901.

Potsdam - this windmill is still standing, a tourist attraction next to the famous Sanssouci palace. Publ. A.S.B. = Alfred Schulze, Berlin, no. 542, p/u  1909. Coloured collotype.

Montaigu (Aisne) France. Windmill with man in front, it looks small. Cliché: Thuillier. Lina, éditeur. Monochrome collotype printed. German fieldpost late 1914

Christmas Greetings in German language on a Dutch production (Jospe, Arnhem, Kleurenserie 4, K 1411). Not p/u. Coloured halftone on thin card. Post-1945 origin?

A Row of (Dutch) windmills. Postcard after an oil painting signed Gerstenhauer. T.S.N. (Theo Stroefer, Nuremberg) series 1096 (6 designs). Not p/u.

Meissner & Buch, Leipzig published this romantic rural view by anonymous artist in artists’ series 1282 (“Froehlich Herz bringt frohe Zeit”). Not p/u, undivided back = pre-1905. Chromolithography.

A Corner of Barton Broad reads the (well hidden in dark portion of the painting) caption. Signed E. Andersen. Publ. by C.W: Faulkner & Co. Ltd. London. Series 429. Not p/u. A windmill in the middle of a deserted landscape. Strange colours.

> A different type of windmill. The famous “Red Mill”, Paris. Moulin Rouge Cinema and Bal de Moulin Rouge, the latter advertising French Cancan and Quadrille. Gravure printed card, number 130, on address side the name ‘Leconte’ is found. Publisher? Photographer? Handwritten message in German  is dated May 1942.