Naughty French Postcards

Until quite recently you could buy old French postcards (of a naughty variety) in France, but in recent years they've become scarce and expensive.

Due to my ongoing clear out of junk, I've recently sold my small collection of French postcards, but I scanned a few favourites to share with you. I found all of these cards in Africa, from Kenya to Tunisia, almost every second hand goods shop, flea market or store has a shoe box of postcards and if you're lucky you'll find something exotic at a good price.

I tended to collect the more absurd postcards which were created to get around the obscenity laws of the time. These cards were produced between 1870 and 1900 in Paris. During the late 19th century a nude image would be highly illegal in most European countries, unless the nude was of educational value, as these cards most definitely are.

The titles are from the reverse of the actual postcards.

Women wrestlers - How to execute a headlock

The correct way to fall when ice skating


The left hook

Riding a tandem


My personal favourite - How to drink beer