Date of use : 1903, Spain
1903 Postcard to Photographer Bougault
This postcard was sent from Tarragona, Spain, on November 27, 1903, to Toulon, France, and arrived three days later on November 30, 1903. The recipient was French photographer Alexandre Bougault (1851–1911).
Bougault participated in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and after the war, he turned to photography. In 1893, he established his own studio in Toulon at 3 Place de la Liberté, where he worked on various photographic projects for L'Illustration magazine and the French Navy. His work made significant contributions to the visual memory of the era.
Around 1907, he moved his studio to Biskra, Algeria, where he produced one of the earliest photographic reports documenting the region's natural landscapes, daily life, and local culture. Bougault passed away on September 4, 1911. After his death, his son continued the work, and the family studio remained active until 1940.
Bougault and his son produced high-quality postcards and album prints using the phototypie (collotype) process—a halftone-free printing technique using bichromated gelatin on a glass surface. These postcards were generally printed by Bergeret & Cie in Nancy or by the Lévy brothers in Paris. Bougault's photographs often depicted French naval ships, harbor scenes, and moments from the North African campaigns. Today, many of these images are preserved in institutional collections, especially in the catalog of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF).
On the reverse side of the postcard, there is a short message written in Spanish by a woman named Josefa Tayol. The message reads:
✉️ MESSAGE CONTENT ✉️
Dear Sir,
I kindly ask you to confirm the receipt of my registered letter. I am surprised that you did not receive the postcards. Please let me know whether you received them.
With sincere regards,
Josefa Tayol
Tarragona, November 27, 1903
This brief correspondence not only reflects the communication between two individuals but also illustrates the speed of postal services of the time, the professional network among photographers, and the widespread use of the phototypie printing technique.
Record Information
Title: 1903 Postcard to Photographer Bougault
Category: Photographic History / Postal History
Subcategory: French Photography / International Correspondence
Country: Spain (Origin) → France (Destination)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Tarragona → Toulon
Date of use: 27 November 1903 (sent) – 30 November 1903 (arrival)
Sender: Josefa Tayol, Tarragona, Spain
Recipient: Alexandre Bougault (1851-1911), Phototypie & Photographie, 3 Place de la Liberté, Toulon, France
Photographer: Alexandre Bougault (Franco-Prussian War veteran, photographer for L'Illustration and French Navy, moved to Biskra, Algeria c.1907, studio active until 1940)
Printing Technique: Phototypie (collotype) – halftone-free process using bichromated gelatin on glass
Printers: Bergeret & Cie, Nancy; Lévy brothers, Paris
Subjects: French naval ships, harbor scenes, North African campaigns, Algerian landscapes
Archival Holdings: Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
Object Type: International postcard / personal correspondence
Postal Route 🚂🚢: Tarragona → Toulon (1903 Mediterranean Route)
Estimated Travel Time: 3 days (27-30 November 1903)
Postal Features: Spanish postage stamps, international postal markings, 3-day delivery
Language: Spanish
Material: Printed card stock with handwritten message
Dimensions: Standard postcard format
Collection Theme: French naval photography, phototypie printing, Mediterranean photographic networks, Franco-Spanish correspondence
Archival Significance: This 1903 postcard documents the professional network of Alexandre Bougault, a French photographer who worked for L'Illustration and the French Navy. His adoption of phototypie (collotype) printing, produced by Bergeret & Cie and the Lévy brothers, enabled high-quality reproduction of naval and North African scenes. The three-day delivery illustrates efficient Mediterranean postal services. A primary source for understanding early 20th-century photography, publishing, and Mediterranean communication networks.
Research Note:
This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.
This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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