Cards like this are important examples of personal communication from the the First World War. As indicated by a handwritten note accompanying the cards, they were sent by a soldier named Samuel Taylor in France to his wife, Lizzy Taylor in Australia, and are a reminder of the national sentiments that were common at the time. The correspondence is very formal, reflecting both the time, and perhaps the level of education of the soldier. The fact that they were preserved as treasures within a family for so long, indicates how important such brief notes were to the family at home. They are also beautiful examples of card design of the period and demonstrate the handiwork and dexterity of their makers. These cards complement other First Word War objects and paraphernalia in the Museum's collection, including medals, cigarette cards, propellers, badges, photographs and letters, and help to communicate stories relating to the personal circumstances of soldiers and their families and the intimate details of life in the wartime era. Produced in France, these embroidered cards are generally known as "WWI Silks".

Vanessa Mack
2009

These greeting cards, or WWI silks, were all produced in France by French and Belgian women between 1914 and 1918. The strips were finished in factories where they were cut and mounted. The cards usually have no postage, as they were mailed in Military Mail pouches.

These greeting cards were donated to the Museum along with a hand written note from the donor, 'enclosing very special cards that have come into my possession' and a page from a notebook with the two names: Samuel Taylor, passed away 1971, aged 84 years and Lizzy Taylor, passed away 1972, aged 86 years.

Greeting cards, (13), 'WW1 silks', paper / silk on hand embroidered cotton muslin, owned and used by Samuel and Lizzy Taylor, Paris, France / New South Wales, Australia, 1914-1918

13 greeting cards in the form of postcards with a message and a pattern or scene embroidered in coloured thread pasted on the front, and held in place by a thin cardboard border. 10 have a flap, forming an envelope, with a small greeting card inserted. Three have a message in pencil written on the back. None have been posted.

-1 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with flap, with purple and yellow pansies with green and yellow leaves on flap and With Loving Christmas Greetings embroidered on pocket. Pocket contains a small card with drawing of a woman with a basket of flowers, and message - A Happy Christmas. Back is printed in grey type in standard postcard format, Carte Postale / Post Card / Postkaart / Correspondance/ Adresse. Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S. Paris - Depose. Written in pencil, From Your Loving Husband Sam To Lizzie

-2 Postcard, portrait view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel, with a village scene of Church, cottage, bridge, poplar trees in green and black with a border which reads God Bless You Until Y Return and pink flowers and sprays of green leaves. Back is printed in green type in standard postcard format, Carte Postale / Post Card / Postkaart / Correspondance/ Adresse. Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S. Paris - Depose. Written in pencil, With best love from one who is allway thinking about you xxxxx. To Lizzie from Sam

-3 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card To my dear wife, with a village scene of woman kneeling by a stream. Embroidery on flap has pink roses, green leaves, blue sky and sea, with yellow sun rising, and below, To my dear Wife. Back has printed space for address and message, both blank. fabrication francaise A B printed on back

-4 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a picture of a woman dressed as a soldier in a war zone, and From a soldier of the King; panel embroidered with a silver daisy, green leaves and yellow edging, and message: Not absent in Thoughts. Back printed in purple type in standard post card format, Post Card/Postkaart, Correspondance, Adresse. Printed by Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S.Paris-depose

-5 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a picture of a woman holding a flower, and message: Forget me not. Panel embroidered with pink and yellow flowers, green leaves and blue border and writing: To My Dear Wife from your Loving Husband. Back printed in purple type in standard post card format, Post Card/Postkaart, Correspondance, Adresse. Printed by Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S.Paris-depose

-6 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a drawing of a woman arranging flowers and message For Ever and Aye. Panel embroidered with red, white and blue flowers with yellow, and light blue edging and writing: A kiss from France. Back printed in purple type in standard post card format, Post Card/Postkaart, Correspondance, Adresse. Printed by Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S.Paris-depose

-7 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket empty. Panel embroidered in red white blue green and black with numbers 1918 formed from parts of flags. Message in yellow: Souvenir from France. Back printed in brown type in standard post card format, Post Card, Correspondance, Adresse. Fabrication Francaise, Modele depose, Vise Paris.

-8 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a drawing of a woman with wings, holding large boxes, and message: To my dearest. Panel embroidered with pastel colours, pink flowers with yellow, green leaves, blue edging, message in blue: Hearty Birthday Greetings. Back printed in purple type in standard post card format, Post Card/Postkaart, Correspondance, Adresse. Printed by Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S.Paris-depose

-9 Postcard, portrait view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel. Panel embroidered with the flags of the Allies with France and Britain larger, and wreath of green and red leaves surrounding the small centre photograph of the head of a woman. Back printed in purple type in standard post card format, Post Card/Postkaart, Correspondance, Adresse. Printed by Vise, Paris et Exportation. J.S.Paris-depose

-10 Postcard, portrait view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a drawing of a windmill in a country scene, and message: With loving Chrismas greetings. Panel embroidered in pastel colours with pink flowers, green leaves and edging, and blue background and writing: To my Wife. Back printed in grey type in standard post card format, Carte Postale/ Postcard, This side for Correspondence Correspondance, This side for Adress (sic)/Adresse. Fabrication francaise. J.S, Paris depose. Message written in pencil: Wishing you a Merry Chrismas and a Happy New Year To Lizzie from Sam.

-11 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket empty. Panel embroidered with scene of a church and trees with flowers and leaves, in white, brown, red, green and purple, yellow and blue. In mauve writing: God be with you till we meet again. Back is blank except for a vertical line in the centre, and Modele depose A.O.-- Vise, Paris in small letters along the line.

-12 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with pocket and flap, pocket containing a small printed card with a drawing of a ship at sea from a balcony, and message: New Year. Panel embroidered with red, white, blue and green suggesting national flags of the allies forming the letters 1918, with green and red holly, yellow edging and light brown writing: Victorious New Year. Back is bare except for dotted lines for the address, and an emblem P.R. (word unclear) francaise. Modale depose.

-13 Postcard, landscape view, paper frame holding muslin embroidered panel with a lion and unicorn holding a shield, and Manchester on a scroll beneath. Colours -- white, yellow, blue , black and red, with green flowers at side. Back bare except for a vertical line and four lightly dotted lines for the address. An emblem at the bottom, J.J. marque deposee. vise Paris.

Made: 1914 - 1918

2010/19/1

1914 - 1918

90 mm

135 mm