{"product_id":"tiara-of-saitaphernes-gold-embossed-postcard-1903","title":"Antique Gold Embossed Postcard – Tiara of Saitaphernes – 1903","description":"\u003ch1 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Tiara of Saitaphernes – A Remarkable Postcard from the 1903 Louvre Scandal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn authentic antique French postcard dating from June 1903, featuring an elegant gold-embossed illustration of the famous Tiara of Saitaphernes, one of the most extraordinary archaeological forgery scandals in French museum history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis charming Belle Époque postcard combines beautiful period decoration, raised gold embossing, elegant handwritten correspondence and a fascinating historical subject.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike ordinary printed postcards, the illustration of the tiara features a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eraised, gold-coloured embossed design\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, giving the ancient-looking crown a distinctive decorative texture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe postcard was sent to Mademoiselle Marguerite Rey in Paris and retains its original French postage stamp and postal cancellation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Extraordinary History of the Tiara of Saitaphernes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1896, the Louvre Museum in Paris purchased what was believed to be an extraordinary ancient gold tiara belonging to the Scythian king Saitaphernes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe museum paid the remarkable sum of 200,000 French francs for this supposed archaeological treasure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHowever, doubts soon emerged concerning the authenticity of the object.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1903, the truth was finally established: the celebrated tiara was not an ancient masterpiece but a modern creation made by the talented goldsmith Israel Rouchomovsky in Odessa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe revelation caused an enormous scandal in France and became a favourite subject of newspapers, caricatures and humorous postcards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis original postcard was written in June 1903, at the very time when the affair was attracting widespread public attention.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is therefore not merely a decorative antique postcard, but also a fascinating contemporary souvenir of a famous episode in the history of art and archaeology.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn Elegant Embossed Gold Illustration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe front features a delicate gold-coloured representation of the Tiara of Saitaphernes, including its intricate decorative scenes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe design is embossed, creating a raised surface that catches the light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbove the illustration appears the original French inscription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“TIARE DE SAÏTAPHARNÈS”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe remaining space is occupied by beautiful handwritten correspondence, dated June 7, 1903.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse preserves an elegant handwritten address to Mademoiselle Marguerite Rey in Paris, together with a French 10-centime postage stamp and postal cancellation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-spread=\"false\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Tiara of Saitaphernes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original antique embossed postcard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e June 7, 1903 (handwritten date)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e French Belle Époque, early 20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e France\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTechnique:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Printed postcard with raised gold-coloured embossing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eColour:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Antique cream paper with gold decoration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePostal history:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Postally used, with original stamp and cancellation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCorrespondence:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original handwritten French message and address\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 9 × 14 cm (3.5 × 5.5 inches)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReference:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e BG-17\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eQuantity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e One original antique postcard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSold as:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The exact postcard shown in the photographs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthentic antique condition, consistent with age and postal use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe postcard displays natural age-related yellowing, light foxing, minor surface marks and some wear along the edges and corners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe embossed gold design remains an attractive feature of the composition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original handwriting, postage stamp and postal cancellation have been preserved.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe postcard has not been restored.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Unique Piece of French Art History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis unusual postcard will appeal to collectors of antique French postcards, archaeological history, museum memorabilia, historical scandals, early 20th-century ephemera and gold-embossed paper collectibles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt would also make a beautiful addition to a historical paper collection, antique writing desk or cabinet of curiosities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will receive the original antique embossed postcard shown in the photographs, not a reproduction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Escritorie","offers":[{"title":"Default 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