Designation: "N2 Carre Orange 179. Postes et Télégraphes" ("Orange Square 179. Posts and Telegraphs"), indicating this is a numbered form from the French postal service, likely for customs or registered mail handling.
Instruction: "Attacher ici le paquet des objets chargés ou recommandé" ("Attach here the package of charged or registered items"), providing guidance on how to use the form for postal or customs purposes.
Postmark: Two dates are noted, "Postes Bureau Frontière 1 sept 14 - 2 sept 14", suggesting this form was processed at a border post office on September 1st and 2nd, 1914, during the early days of WWI when border controls would have been particularly stringent.
Tracking Information: "Indication des dépêches entrantes Origine Destination Nombre" ("Indication of incoming dispatches Origin Destination Number"), with spaces left empty, intended for recording details of incoming mail or parcels.
WWI Postal and Customs Operations: This form reflects the logistical efforts to maintain postal services amid the chaos of war, particularly at border points where mail, especially registered or valuable items, needed careful handling due to the risk of interception or loss.
Border Controls: The dual postmark dates from September 1914 indicate this was at a time when France was rapidly mobilizing, and border security would have been heightened, affecting postal routes and customs procedures.
Military and Civilian Communication: Such forms would have been critical for ensuring the secure passage of official documents, personal letters, or parcels to soldiers at the front or to civilians, offering a glimpse into the administrative backbone of wartime communication.
Significance of Registration: The mention of "objets chargés ou recommandé" shows the importance placed on ensuring certain items reached their destination, which was especially poignant in times of war when personal belongings or critical supplies might be involved.
Historical Significance: Valuable for collectors of WWI memorabilia, postal history enthusiasts, or those interested in the logistics of war. It provides insight into the postal and customs operations during a period of intense conflict. Offers a concrete example of how postal services adapted to wartime conditions, the bureaucratic processes involved in moving goods and mail across borders, and the human effort to maintain communication lines.
Note: This WWI feuille d'avis is not just a piece of postal history; it's a testament to the resilience of administrative systems in the face of global warfare, capturing a moment where even the simplest act of sending a letter required meticulous documentation and care.
