A sizeable archive of approximately 420 loose postcards (including some cut from postcard albums) and four souvenir albums with an additional approximately 86 bound postcards, for a total of approximately 500 postcards (including some duplicates), showcasing the various pavilions, architectural landmarks, and events from the 1925 fair in Paris, including a large number of nighttime views. Most approximately 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Loose as issued, currently housed in modern albums. Most unused, a small percentage written on and/or mailed. Scattered soiling and handling wear, light dust-staining or toning, some trimmed or with uneven edges where they've been removed from a souvenir postcard album, overall very good. [Paris, circa 1925.].

The Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, or International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, was held in Paris from April 29 to November 8, 1925. It was originally scheduled to end in October, but the closing date was extended by two weeks due to high admission numbers. It took place between the esplanade of Les Invalides and the entrances of the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. The fair boasted 15,000 exhibitors from 20 countries, and it is estimated that more than 16 million people attended the fair. It was designed by the French government to highlight the new 'modern style' in architecture, interior decoration, furniture, glass, jewelry, and other decorative arts within Europe and around the world. Original plans to arrange the fair began in 1915, but were set aside due to World War I.

This exposition was key in displaying, in many cases for the first time, ideas of the international avant-garde in architecture and the applied arts. The fair also gave birth to the term "Art Deco", which was taken from the name of the fair. The program laid out clearly that, "Whatever the reputation of the artist, whatever the commercial strength of the manufacturer, neither will be allowed into the exhibition if they do not fit the conditions outlined in the exhibition program", which made it clear that the fair was to be a celebration of modernism. The fair also had the goal of honoring the Allied countries from the war, which is why Germany was not invited.

The fair had thirteen gateways to access the exposition, each designed by a different architect. There were pavilions from major French stores and decorators, a section pavilions from French provincial designers, pavilions for foreign manufacturers, and a section devoted to the products of French colonies which could be used in decoration, especially rare woods and decorative inlay materials such as mother-of-pearl and ivory.

Exhibitors, architects, and participants at the fair included the Galeries Lafayette, the Bon Marché department store, Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Le Corbusier, Josef Hoffmann, Peter Behrens, Victor Horta, Henry van de Velde, Victor Vourgeois, Elisabeth de Saedeleer, Kay Fisker, Carl Bergsten, Ragnar Ostberg, Tadeusz Gronowski, Zofia Stryjenska, Iwakichi Miyamoto, Konstantin Melnikov, Alexander Rodchenko, René Lalique, Edgar Brandt, Camille Fauré, Louis Cartier, and many others.

This remarkable collection of postcards showcases all that the exposition had to offer. Most of the views are architectural, depicting the numerous buildings which were constructed especially for the fair. The vast majority are black-and-white photo-postcards. There are a large number of nighttime views, especially from a series "Exposition des Arts Décoratifs - Vue de Nuit", and some colorized nighttime views of fountains and the Eiffel Tower. The pavilions showcase the work of noted international architects as well as the various styles of those countries. Some highlights include an Alsatian oratory, the Primavera pavilion for the Printemps department store, Lalique's large fountain, and the Eiffel Tower illuminated with an advertisement for Citroen. Many of the postcards are unused, but a small percentage have been written on.

A wonderful collection of postcards from the world's fair that brought us Art Deco.

Book ID: 53652

Price: $2,250.00