Verdun From 15,750 Feet: WWI French Aerial Recon RPPC, June 1917 5.5x3.5 For Sale

Verdun From 15,750 Feet: WWI French Aerial Recon RPPC, June 1917 5.5x3.5"4,800 Meter Altitude Sortie Over Verdun's Ruined Barracks District, French Aviation MilitaireDESCRIPTIONOriginal Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) aerial reconnaissance image made by French military aviation on June 17, 1917, over the Caserne Marceau barracks district in the northeastern faubourgs of Verdun, France.This vertical aerial view was captured from approximately 4,800 meters, nearly 15,750 feet, the kind of high altitude French reconnaissance crews flew to photograph the front while limiting exposure to anti-aircraft fire. The printed data strip along the top edge reads "F1. A284 No.3131. 17.6.17 1h Kas. Marceau L12665 H4800 Br50," recording the frame number, date, location, altitude, and a camera notation; French aerial photographic sections of the period commonly used 50cm focal length lenses for detailed plan updates of contested ground, a step up from the 26cm lenses used for general mapping and below the 120cm lenses reserved for the finest analysis of enemy positions.Caserne Marceau was a documented casualty of the 1916 Battle of Verdun, reduced to ruins by German bombardment and used afterward as a shelter and command post by French forces holding the sector, and this photograph was taken less than a year later as French aviation continued monitoring the area in the weeks following the Nivelle Offensive.The image shows a north arrow at upper right and captures a road network, a rail line, trench works, and wooded terrain, with light period ink marks, a "P" and a connecting line, added by an original intelligence interpreter to flag a point of interest.The card measures approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches, standard European RPPC stock, with the photographic image occupying most of the card within a narrow mount border.The reverse is the standard postcard divided-back layout and is blank, unused, with no writing or postal markings. Archivally scanned at 600dpi so you can study every trench line and annotation before it ships.CONDITIONUsed, good display condition consistent with its age and history as a working intelligence document. The photographic surface shows scattered fine scratches and light overall toning, most visible in the darker tone areas at right. The mount edges show light wear with a couple of minor nicks along the border; no tears or creases run through the image area.The period ink annotations on the photo face, a "P" and a short connecting line, are original to its wartime use and are not damage. The reverse is clean, blank, and unused. Housed and shipped in an acid free sleeve.

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