1901? A. Bergeret Phototypes. Two cards each using one or two photographs of human beings to suggest a La Fontaine fable. GA and "Le Serpent et la Lime." The message on each is dated October 21, 1902. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. 30 Francs each from P. Bresch, Clignancourt, August, '01.

The verso of each card is given entirely to the address. The note in each case is thus written on the picture side of the card. GA presents a traditional view of the fable: a girl holding a guitar reaches out for help to the woman at the spinning wheel. A pastoral background is added behind these photographed figures. Is it not winter in the fable? "Le Serpent et la Lime" pictures an outrageous fusilier/pistolier against a wary bandolier. Which is the serpent and which the file? These cards are among the more unusual La Fontaine things I have found.

1901? A. Bergeret Phototype. A card offering a photograph of four human beings to illustrate La Fontaine's fable "L'Huitre et les Plaideurs." No message, stamp, or postmark. Nancy: Phototypie A. Bergeret et Cie. £8.69 from A. Harper, Hartlepool, Cleveland, UK, through eBay, Jan., '06.

The verso of the card is again given entirely to the address and is otherwise uniform with the other two cards from Bergeret. This time the verso is blank. The application of La Fontaine's fable is imaginative and properly risqué. While two gentlemen get the disrobing woman's shoe and garment respectively, the judge gets the woman!

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