POSTCARD N.108 - FRANCE - DROM-COM - RÉUNION

Postcard sent on the 29th June, received on the  11th July 2023

Postcard image: Postman 1830
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Reunion Island is  the southermost territory of the European Union. Located in the Indian Ocean to the East of Madagascar, it is not the kind of place that a European Union native like my own self would,  at first glance think about being able to go to without having to get his passport stamped or without having to endure the hassle of having to exchange money into the local currency. Still, as it stands, La Réunion allows us, EU nationals, this not so little priviledge. 

Since, like any postcard or cover collector, I love to receive mail from uncommon and unexpected places, I was rather pleasantly surprised to see this very nice postcard,  from Alex "the Phantom",  waiting to be picked up in my letterbox.

Thanks a lot, Alex. It is a perfect postcard for a blog called "Thank you Mr. Postman"...or should I say, "Merci, Monsieur le facteur", who, in 1830  dressed up as illustrated in the image, in order to go do his delivery round in the French cities. Rather dandy but probably highly uncomfortable,  as was the norm with 19th century clothing, if my opinion is permited.

The pre-paid postcard was issued  on the occasion of the "Journée du Timbre, 1975", a philatelic  event that was redenominated Fête du Timbre in 2000, and which is celebrated in every French city with an active philatelic association.

The image illustrating the printed stamp is that of a Postman identifying plaque. No date being indicated, I'd presume the plaque to be contemporary with the image of the postman.

The postmark identifies the local of expedition of the postcard as Cilaos, a city ocuppying the crater of an ancient Volcano, in Central Reunion Island, a French overseas territorty.