Visiting Versailles in the 1930s - Sepia Saturday 815

The theme for Sepia Saturday 815 shows a museum bedroom - which made me think of  some old postcards from Versailles, Paris, from my great-aunt Gerda's collection. 

This is a photo of Gerda visiting the gardens of Versailles in 1932. I have shown the same photo in an earlier post, from 2022-05-06, linked to Sepia Saturday 620. But that's nearly four years ago now... Some followers with good memories may remember bits and pieces from Gerda's story, but here's a short summary again:

Gerda Ekman, born 1881, was one of my grandmother Sally's older half-sisters. They shared the same father, but had different mothers. Gerda's mother died when she was six years old. In 1898, when she was 17, her father got remarried  to a younger window with one daughter (six years old at the time). 

In 1900, my grandmother Sally was born, and in 1902 also a baby boy. In those years of her father starting a new family, Gerda seems to have been staying with her oldest sister and her family much of the time. The sibling closest to Gerda's own age was her brother Gustaf, only two years older than herself. He was making plans to emigrate to America, and Gerda was no doubt inspired by him (but perhaps by other friends with the same plans as well). 

They both ended up emigrating in 1902 (for Gerda, when she turned 21). My impression is that they did not go on the same ship, though, but a few months apart. Anyway, while Gustaf ended up at a sawmill in Pennsylvania, Gerda went to Chicago; where she probably started out as simple kitchen maid, but kept working her way up to more respected positions in bigger households. Both siblings returned to Sweden around 1910/11. (Their father had then been dead for a few years - he died in 1907.) While Gustaf went back to farm work, Gerda continued her "career" as lady's maid and travel companion to wealthy ladies. 

When WWI broke out in 1914, Gerda happened to be in France - and got stuck there for the duration of the war. I've so far not been able to figure out who exactly she worked for during those years (and I probably never will) - but it was obviously for some fairly wealthy woman (or couple), as postcards show that in spite of the war going on, they went on holidays in the eastern parts of France, down to the riviera, and also over lake Geneva to Switzerland. After the war, Gerda returned to Sweden again - but continued to work as lady's maid/travel companion for various upper class women, also travelling abroad now and then.

In the autumn of 1928, she got employed as lady's maid to Estelle Manville-Bernadotte, daughter of a wealthy American, who in December that year married the Swedish count Folke Bernadotte (nephew of King Gustav V of Sweden). (The wedding took place in Pleasantville, N.Y.) The couple/family kept travelling a lot in the 1930s, both between Sweden and America, and within Europe; and Gerda travelled with them. 

Years ago, a relative quoted (in an email to me) a document stating that in 1932, Gerda was employed at Square Lamartine no 3 in Paris, as "domestique au service du comte Bernadotte de Wisborg, neveu du Roi de Suède"  (Cf a post from 2022-05-06: Cairo and Paris, 1932 - Sepia Saturday 620) 

So I know for a fact that Gerda was in Paris in 1932, and visited Versailles that year. Possibly the postcards may have been bought even earlier though. (No dates printed on them, so I can't be sure.)

Anyway - what made me think of these cards for this week's Sepia Saturday was three bedroom photos:

Marie Antoinette's Bedroom

Lous XIV's bedroom

Napoleon's bedroom

I'll include the rest of the Versailles postcards as well, just to have them all gathered in one post:

Linking to: Sepia Saturday 815 (28 February 2026)

Via Paris to New York (1935) - Sepia Saturday 625

 

From the year 1934, I don't have any postcards written by Gerda; but I'm choosing this small card of unknown date and origin to represent what must have dominated that year for the Bernadotte family (her employers): The birth and death of Folke's and Estelle's third son, Fredrik Oscar Bernadotte. He was born 10 January, 1934 (in Stockholm) but only lived to be 7 months old. He died in August the same year, also in Stockholm. I can't recall having seen the cause of death anywhere. 

In 1935, Gerda's postcards reveal that she and the family were travelling again, though. Via Paris to New York at the end of March, and back to Sweden via England a month later.  (The children Gustaf and Folke Jr  now 5 vs 4 years old.)

M.005.02

The Eiffel Tower in Paris was constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the centerpiece of the 1889 World's Fair. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.

To: Gustav Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Suède
From: Gerda (Paris, 27.3.1935)

Här är sommar och varmt. Allting har gått utmärkt bra.
Stiger på båten i e.m. Kära hälsningar, Gerda 
[Paris] d. 27 kl 9 fm

It's summer here, and warm. Everything has gone very well,
Boarding the ship this afternoon. Love, Gerda
[Paris] the 27th, 9 a.m.

M.005-03

33. CHERBOURG. - Vue d'ensemble de la gare Maritime
(Levavasseur, arch.) - LL.

CHERBOURG - Overview of the Gare Maritime (Harbour Station). Architect: René Vavavasseur

Cherbourg Gare Maritime station or Gare Maritime Transatlantique was a railway station at the end of the railway line from Paris' Gare Saint-Lazare. The complex consisted of the transatlantic hall, a two-storey building through which passengers boarded ocean liners, and also various amenities (including a post office). It was inaugurated in 1933, and was at the time the second largest construction in France after the Palace of Versailles. On the Transatlantic side two ships could berth and empty a thousand passengers into the station in an hour. On the Railway side, up to seven trains a day would take passengers to Paris in 3½ hours. [Wikipedia]

To: Herr Gustav Samuelsson, Storegården, Fristad, Suède
From: Gerda (Cherbourg, 27.3.1935)

d. 27 kl halv 5 em. Har nu kommit till havet och det är lugnt och blått och solen skiner. Får vänta här till kl 6, går då på båten. Resan har gått mycke bra och jag känner mig kry. Kära hälsningar, Gerda.

[Cherbourg] the 27th, 4:30 pm. Have arrived at the sea and it's calm and blue and the sun is shining. Waiting here until 6 pm, then boarding the ship. The journey so far has gone very well and I'm feeling in good health. Love, Gerda.

M.006.01

Empire State Building, New York City   3A - H91

The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and built from 1930 to 1931. Its name is derived from "Empire State", which was the nickname of the state of New York. [Wikipedia]

Text printed on the back of the card: "EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND MIDTOWN NEW YORK - This is the world's tallest building, rises 1250 feet above Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street. Has 102 floors and can shelter 80,000 people. Mooring mast at the top is intended for dirigibles." *

*  "dirigible: a large aircraft without wings, consisting of a large bag filled with gas that is lighter than air and driven by engines. The pilot, passengers, etc. travel in a structure hanging below."
[Cambridge Dictionary]

Did you know that about the Empire State Building? 

That it was designed to be a "parking place" for airships??

Wikipedia: "The final stage of the building was the installation of a hollow mast, a 158-foot (48 m) steel shaft fitted with elevators and utilities, above the 86th floor. At the top would be a conical roof and the 102nd-floor docking station. Inside, the elevators would ascend 167 feet (51 m) from the 86th floor ticket offices to a 33-foot-wide (10 m) 101st-floor waiting room. From there, stairs would lead to the 102nd floor, where passengers would enter the airships. The airships would have been moored to the spire at the equivalent of the building's 106th floor."

To: Herr Gustav Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Sweden
From: Gerda (Grand Cen Annex NY, April ?? 1935)

K. bror! Tack skall du ha för brev, som jag fick med samma jag kom hit. Vi mår alla bra. Reser härifrån den 26 ds, men stannar en vecka i England. Är hemma omkring den 10.5 igen, tror jag. Kära hälsningar, Gerda

Dear brother, Thanks for your letter, which I got as soon as I had arrived here. We are all well. We'll be leaving here on the 26th, but will be stopping in England for a week. Will be back home again around May 5, I think. Love, Gerda

Whether this trip to New York had any other purpose than to visit Estelle's parents in Pleasantville, I don't know. Gerda never mentions her employers by name, nor their reasons for going where they're going - just occasionally lets us sense their presence in an anonymous "we"... 

P.S. On October 6 the same year, 1935, there was a new baby in the family: Bertil Oscar, born in Stockholm.

Linking to Sepia Saturday 625

(Maybe they made time for some shopping in the big city??)

Från 1934 har jag inga vykort skrivna av Gerda, men låter ett litet kort med en vit duva (okänt datum och usprung) representera vad som väl måste ha dominerat detta år för hennes arbetsgivare, familjen Bernadotte: Deras tredje sons födelse och död. Fredrik Oscar Bernadotte föddes10 januari 1934 i Stockholm, men dog i augusti samma år (också i Stockholm), bara sju månader gammal. (Jag kan inte påminna mig att jag sett dödsorsaken nämnas någonstans.)

Från år 1935 finns dock återigen vykort från Gerda som vittnar om att hon och familjen nu var ute och reste igen: via Paris till New York i slutet av mars, och tillbaka till Sverige via England en månad senare. Barnen Gustaf och Folk Jr var nu 5 resp 4 år gamla.

Vykort M.005.02: Eiffeltornet i Paris byggdes mellan 1887 till 1889 för 1889 års världsutställning. Det har fått sitt namn efter ingenjören Gustave Eiffel, vars bolag designade och byggde tornet.

Till Gustav Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Suède
Från Gerda (Paris, 27.3.1935)

Här är sommar och varmt. Allting har gått utmärkt bra. Stiger på båten i e.m. Kära hälsningar, Gerda d. 27 kl 9 fm

Vykort M.005-03: CHERBOURG – Vy över hamnstationen.
Arkitekt: René Vavavasseur.
Cherbourgs hamnstation var en järnvägsstation vid slutet av linjen från Paris. Här fanns en stor tvåvåningsbyggnad varifrån passagerare gick av och på transatlantiska oceanångare, samt diverse annan service, som t.ex. ett postkontor. Anläggningen invigdes 1933, och var då den näst största byggnaden i Frankrike efter Versailles-palatset. På den transatlantiska sidan kunde två fartyg lägga till samtidigt och tusen passagerare passera till järnvägsstationen på en timma. På järnvägssidan kunde upp till sju tåg om dagen föra passagerare till Paris på 3½ timma.

Till Herr Gustav Samuelsson, Storegården, Fristad, Suède
Från Gerda (Cherbourg, 27.3.1935)

d. 27 kl halv 5 em. Har nu kommit till havet och det är lugnt och blått och solen skiner. Får vänta här till kl 6, går då på båten. Resan har gått mycke bra och jag känner mig kry. Kära hälsningar, Gerda

Vykort M.006.01: Empire State Building, New York City
Empire State Building designades av Shreve, Lamb & Harmon och byggdes mellan 1930-1931. Byggnaden fick sitt namn från ”Empire State” som var ett smeknamn på staten New York

På baksidan av vykortet står tryckt: ”EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND MIDTOWN NEW YORK – Detta är världens högsta byggnad. Den reser sig 381 meter över Femte Avenyn och 33:e Gatan, har 102 våningar och kan hysa 80,000 människor. Förtöjningsmasten högst upp är avsedd för luftskepp.”

Enligt Wikipedia var den 48 meter höga ihåliga masten ovanför 86:e våningen försedd med hissar upp till ett väntrum på 101:a våningen. Därifrån gick trappor upp till 102:a våningen varifrån passagerare skulle kunna gå ombord på luftskeppen.

Till: Herr Gustav Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Sweden
Från: Gerda (Grand Cen Annex NY, April ?? 1935)

K. bror! Tack skall du ha för brev, som jag fick med samma jag kom hit. Vi mår alla bra. Reser härifrån den 26 ds, men stannar en vecka i England. Är hemma omkring den 10.5 igen, tror jag. Kära hälsningar, Gerda

Om deras resa till New York 1935 hade något annat syfte än att besöka Estelles föräldrar i Pleasantville vet jag inte. Gerda nämner aldrig sina arbetsgivare vid namn, och heller inte deras skäl för sina resor – hon låter bara läsaren förstå deras närvaro genom att använda ordet ”vi”.

PS. Den 6 oktober samma år, 1935, i Stockholm, föddes Folkes och Estelles fjärde son - Bertil Oscar.

Cairo and Paris, 1932 - Sepia Saturday 620

 M.003.02 - Cairo, March 1932

2075 - CAIRO - The Citadel

"The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin --- is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, built by Salah ad-Din (Saladin) and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It was the seat of government in Egypt and the residence of its rulers for nearly 700 years from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Its location --- commands a strategic position overlooking the city and dominating its skyline. At the time of its construction, it was among the most impressive and ambitious military fortification projects of its time. It is now a preserved historic site, including mosques and museums." [Wikipedia]  

To: Herr Gustaf Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Sweden
From: Gerda (Cairo, 20.3 1932)

Cairo den 20-3-32
Käre bror! Sänder dig en hälsning härifrån, reser igen om tisdag till vanliga adressen.
Kära hälsningar, syster Gerda.

Dear brother, sending you a greeting from here. Leaving again on Tuesday for the usual address.
Love, sister Gerda.

M.003.03 - Paris, June 1932

0823. NEUILLY-sur-SEINE
Angles des rues de Chartres et du Marché.   E.M.

Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune just west of Paris.

To: Herr Gustav Samuelson, Storegården, Fristad, Suède
From: Gerda (Paris, Rue Singer, 4.6 1932)

Hjärtliga lyckönskningar på namnsdagen, med hälsningar Gerda. / Tack för brev.

Heartfelt congratulations on your Name Day*, with best wishes from Gerda. / Thanks for your letter.

[*Gustaf's name day in the Swedish calendar is 6th June.]

- - -

The postcard from Cairo has been shown on this blog before, not all that long ago - for Sepia Saturday 595 (6 Nov 2021) - together with this photo of Gerda, sitting on a donkey in front of a pyramid.

Back in November, it was the Sepia prompt of another donkey ride that made me think of this photo; and when trying to date it, I found the Cairo postcard. 

This time, I'm coming at it from the opposite angle: Working my way through Gerda's postcards in chronological order. I have reached the year 1932, and the cards tell me that this year, Gerda visited Cairo and Paris. 

I find my text from November still relevant, so I'm reusing that below, with some minor adjustments.

From info I got back in 2013 from Bengt W, grandson of Gerda's older sister Emma, I know for sure that in March 1932, Gerda was in the employ of Estelle and Folke Bernadotte (nephew to the king of Sweden, Gustav V). In an email to me, he quotes a document in French dated 9 March 1932, stating that Gerda is then employed in Paris at Square Lamartine no 3 as "domestique au service du comte Bernadotte de Wisborg, neveu du Roi de Suède". 

So, if on the 20th of the same month, Gerda is sending a postcard from Cairo, the ID document was most likely written for that journey.

Googling "Cairo 1932", I found The First Congress of Arab Music, "a large international symposium and music festival that was convened by King Fuad I in Cairo, Egypt, from March 14 to April 3, 1932". [Wikipedia] 

I'm not familiar with the diplomatic relations between Sweden and Egypt at the time, but it seems to me that if this was an international event convened by the king of Egypt, it's not unlikely that Count Bernadotte was attending as representative for the Swedish royal family. (The dates seem to fit "too" well for it to be pure coincidence.)

And I suppose that while they were in Cairo, Gerda was also given a bit of time off for sight-seeing "on her own", including an outing to the pyramids. I'd love it if I could also find out who the men accompanying her in the photo were - but that's probably too much to hope for! (For Sepia Saturday 620, they will represent "unknown faces from the family archives"...)

When I wrote the post back in November, I wasn't sure if by going back to "the usual address", Gerda meant Paris or Stockholm. The next card then seemed to be one from Stockholm in August that year. But since then, I also found the one above, sent from Paris in June. So obviously, Gerda and the Bernadottes went back to Paris for a while before returning to Sweden. 

Thanks to the document quoted above, I also know their address in Paris: Square Lamartine no 3. 

There is a French Wikipedia article about Square Lamartine, named after a French poet.

There is also a photo of Square Lamartine No. 2 (below),

which I suppose must have been their view from No. 3!

I also have this photo of Gerda, with "Versailles, March 1932" scribbled on the back:

In her collection of unwritten postcards, there is also a series of (9) cards from Versailles, which I assume may have been bought on this visit. (Even if, for all I know, she may have visited Versailles more than once.) I'll just include one of them here - maybe I'll return to the others some other time.

93. Versailles - L'Orangerie - Le Château - LL

 

Linking to: Sepia Saturday 620

M.003.02 - Cairo, 20 mars 1932
Käre bror! Sänder dig en hälsning härifrån, reser igen om tisdag till vanliga adressen. Kära hälsningar, syster Gerda.

M.003.03 – Paris 4 juni 1932
Hjärtliga lyckönskningar på namnsdagen, med hälsningar Gerda. / Tack för brev.

Vykortet från Kairo har tidigare förekommit på denna blog för Sepia Saturday 595 (6 nov 2021); likaså fotot på Gerda sittande på en åsna framför en pyramid.

Förra gången var det inspirationsbilden med en annan åsneritt som fick mig att tänka på fotot av Gerda vid pyramiden, och i samband med att försöka datera det fotot hittade jag vykortet från Kairo. Den här gången går mina tankar "i omvänd ordning": Jag har kommit till år 1932 i min kronologiska genomgång av vykorten, som vittnar om att Gerda det här året besökte Kairo och Paris.

Upprepar min text från november, med några smärre justeringar.

För ett antal år sedan, 2013, fick jag en del kompletterande data om Gerdas anställningar i ett email från Bengt W, barnbarn till Gerdas syster Emma. Han nämner "ett sorts identitetsbevis på franska utfärdat 9 mars 1932 om att hon är anställd i Paris på Square Lamartine no 3 som 'domestique au service du comte Bernadotte de Wisborg, neveu du Roi de Suéde'."

Så om Gerda var i Kairo den 20 mars 1932, så råder knappast något tvivel om att hon var där tillsammans med paret Bernadotte. Det verkar även troligt att det där ID-dokumentet skrevs specifikt for den resan.

Men vad var då anledningen till att makarna Bernadotte besökte Kairo i mars 1932? När jag googlade på "Cairo 1932" så ledde mig detta till en Wikipedia-artikel om en internationell kongress om arabisk musik, sammankallad av kung Fuad, och som pågick från 14 mars till 3 april 1932. Jag är inte bekant med de diplomatiska förbindelserna mellan Sverige och Egypten vid den tiden, men om denna kongress var ett initiativ av den egyptiske kungen, så förefaller det inte otroligt att Bernadottes var där som representanter för det svenska hovet. Datumen verkar stämma lite "för" bra för att vara ett rent sammanträffande.

När det gäller Gerda, så antar jag att hon, kanske i sällskap med fler medföljande tjänstefolk, fick lite ledigt för att titta på sevärdheter - t.ex. en utflykt till pyramiderna. Att få reda på vilka männen på ömse sidor om Gerda på fotot är, är väl antagligen inte att hoppas på.

När Gerda skriver att hon på tisdag reser tillbaka "till vanliga adressen", så var jag i november osäker på om detta syftade på Paris eller Stockholm. Nästa kort med tidsangivelse som jag hade då var från augusti 1932, från Stockholm. Men sedan dess har jag också hittat kortet skickat till Gustaf från Paris i juni. Så uppenbarligen tillbringade de ytterligare en tid i Frankrike innan de återvände till Sverige.

Tack vare dokumentet om Gerdas anställning så känner jag också till deras adress i Paris: Square Lamartine Nr 3. Den ledde mig till en fransk Wikipedia-artikel om torget, som uppkallats efter en fransk poet. Där fanns också både ett foto av torget, och även ett av Nr 2, som de väl bör ha haft utsikt mot från Nr 3 (alt bott granne med). 

Jag har även ett foto av Gerda med texten ”Versailles, mars 1932” på backsidan. Och i hennes samling av oskrivna vykort finns en serie om 9 kort från Versailles, som jag antar köpts vid detta besök. (Även om det är möjligt att hon kan ha besökt Versailles fler gånger.) Jag tar bara med ett av vykorten i det här inlägget – kanske återkommer jag till de andra vid något senare tillfälle.

G.071.01 - G.071.02 - Postcards from Lyon and Paris, June 1914 - Sepia Saturday 599

 G.071.01

LYON - Exposition Internationale - Ouverture 1er Mai 1914
L'éntree Principale

Detta är en del av utställningen här.
This is part of the exhibition here.

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Backa, Brålanda, Suède
From: Gerda (sent from Lyon, France,  5 June 1914)

Hjärtligaste hälsningar sändes dig på Gustaf-dagen!
/ syster Gerda
(Jag väntar på brev från dig.)

Sending you my best wishes for your name-day!*
/ sister Gerda 
Upside down: I'm waiting for a letter from you.

Gustaf's Name Day was/is 6th June, in Sweden. Cf. recent post Gustaf-dagen 6 juni 1913.

The postmark says Lyons-Brotteaux. Looking this up, I find that... 

Brotteaux is a neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon. It is situated between the Rhône and the track railway which leads to the Gare de la Part-Dieu. The urbanization of this area began in the late eighteenth century under the leadership of architect and urban planner Jean-Antoine Morand Jouffrey (1727-1794). The area is sometimes called Morand quarter.

I get the impression that it's rather a posh district of Lyon, and probably was so 100 years ago as well - which fits in with my great-aunt Gerda travelling as lady's maid to a wealthy lady, and therefore also staying at posh hotels. 

The Exposition internationale urbaine de Lyon was a World's Fair in the French city of Lyon, opened on 1st May, 1914. [Wikipedia] The exposition focused on urban planning and public health. and was planned to last until 1st November. However, the outbreak of the First World War (28 July) led to closure of the Austrian and German pavillions on 2 August. Several more pavillions were also abandoned before the official closure in November.

On 5th June, when this card was written, WWI was still not in the picture, though, and Gerda, even if only there as a servant, was probably enjoying the busy atmosphere of the World Fair, and excited to be able to send her brother a postcard of it.

875. PARIS. - Le Pont Alexandre III. - L.L.

 

To: Herr Gustav Ekman, Backa, Brålanda, Suède
From: Gerda (sent from Paris, 12.6.1914)

Käre bror! Hur mår du? Jag är nu här igen på en vecka. Nästa [måndag] är det den 15, får se hur det lyckas. Hoppas få brev från dig snarast. / Syster Gerda

Dear brother, How are you? I'm now here again for a week. Next [Monday] is the 15th, remains to be seen if it succeeds. I hope to receive a letter from you soon. / Sister Gerda

[Looked up 15 June 1914 in an online calendar and it was a Monday.] 

This is such a teasing message...! Gerda must have written Gustaf a letter in between these two cards, explaining what it was that she was hoping would succeed on or before June 15th. (It still can't have anything to do with the war. The assassination in Sarajevo didn't happen until June 28th, and the war didn't break out until July 28th.) 

Linking to: Sepia Saturday 599

"Will it succeed?"

G.066.01 - G.066.02 Postcards from Gerda in Paris and Rome, March 1914 / Sepia Saturday 598

Around New Year 1913/14, Gustaf (35) moved from Värmlands Nysäter to Brålanda, in the Swedish province of Dalsland (cf. previous post). (I think he worked at a farm there.) His sister Gerda (32) is travelling in Europe, as lady's maid to some wealthy English lady. (Cf. November 1913). These two cards, one from Paris and one from Rome, were sent from Gerda to Gustaf in March 1914. The outbreak of WWI is still 4½ months into the future, and probably not in the crystal ball for either of them...

PARIS - Le Jardin du Palais-Royal. - D.L.

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Backa, Brålanda (Suède)
From: Gerda (sent from Paris, 14.3.1914)

Tack så mycke för bref idag. Är nu i Paris igen för några dagar. Här är lifligt må du tro. Skall skrifva så snart jag får tid. Kära hälsningar, Gerda.

Thanks a lot for your letter today. I'm now in Paris again for a few days. It's very lively here. I'll write as soon as I have the time. Best wishes, Gerda.

ROMA  - Foro Romano coli Arco di Settimio Severo

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Backa, Brålanda (Sverige)

From: Gerda (sent from Rome, 18.3.1914)

Jag är nu och hälsar på italienarna, du må tro de är riktiga snobbar i sitt land, annat än i America. Jag tycker mycke om Rom. Kom hit den 14 och stannar nog en vecka till. Kanske till Venedig härifrån. Kära hälsningar, syster Gerda. (Upp-och-ner: Sådana gamla ruiner finns det gott om här.)

I'm now visiting the Italians. You wouldn't believe how snobbish they are in their own country - so different from in America.* I like Rome a lot. I came here on the 14th and will probably be staying for about a week longer. Perhaps to Venice from here. Best wishes, sister Gerda. (Upside-down: There are plenty of old ruins like these here.)

* COMMENT: Gerda and Gustaf both lived in America between 1902-11; Gustaf working at lumber yards in Pennsylvania, and Gerda as a maid in Chicago.

Linking to Sepia Saturday 598

G.064.01 - G.064.02 Postcards from Gerda in London and Paris, November 1913 / Sepia Saturday 597

 

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Speked, Värmlands Nysäter, Sweden
From: Gerda - sent from London, 14 Nov 1913; arrived Värml Nysäter 17 Nov.

London d. 14.11.13

Resan har gått ---, reser till Frankrike i morgon. Skall skrifva sedan.  Hälsningar, syster Gerda. - Här är lifligt må du tro ----- (resten oläsbart)

London 14.11.13
The journey has gone [well so far], leaving for France tomorrow. Will write later. Greetings from sister Gerda. - It's very lively here ---- (the rest unreadable)

Fleur d'hiver (Winter flower)

To: Gustaf Ekman, Speked, Värmlands Nysäter, Sweden
From: Gerda - sent from Paris, 18 Nov 1913; arrived V. Nysäter 21.11 1913

Paris d. 17.11.13

Hälsningar från Parisemode. Hvad tycks? /Gerda

Paris 17.11.13

Greetings from Paris fashion. What do you think? /Gerda

I found some more examples of Paris winter fashion 1913 here:
 https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O536464/hiver-1913-fashion-design-jeanne-paquin/

November 1913:

Since February or March 1913, Gustaf has been living in Värmlands Nysäter (in the province of Värmland, Sweden), probably working with felling/transporting timber. (Cf. the recent post Gustaf moves to Värmland) From these cards sent to him by Gerda in November, I learn that he is still there.

According to information from a relative (BW) some years ago*, between October 1912 and April 1913, Gerda was employed as lady's maid to a Swedish countess, Adèle de la Gardie (born Jacquier), at Sörby Ringstorp, Östergötland. According to BW,  that employment ended when Adele went abroad. 

I haven't yet searched for more info about Adèle, but I found a photo at https://swedishportraits.com/. 

However, from the postcards above, sent by Gerda to Gustaf from London and Paris in November 1913, I can only conclude that Gerda must soon have found similar employment with some other lady, who also did want her as travel companion for journeys abroad.

Linking to: Sepia Saturday 597

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*/ Gerdas yrkesbeteckning i hennes flerspråkiga betyg 1912-1928 var kammarjungfru, Lady's maid, femme de chambre. 

1/10 1912 till 15/4 1913 i Sörby Ringstorp (Östergötland) kammarjungfru hos Adele de la Gardie (f Jacquier Frankrike gift 1911). Anställningen upphör när Adele reser utomlands. Gerda är skicklig i sömnad, hårskötsel, servering, talar engelska fullkomligt och har "some knowledge of dressmaking".

Nästa betyg är utfärdat i Lyon, France 28/9 1919. Gerda har arbetat som Lady's Maid o är en "excellent packer and hairdresser and a  neat needlewoman".

Ur email från Bengt W (april 2013)

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Gerda kom att arbeta som sällskapsdam åt rika engelska ladies som reste runt i Samväldet o USA. Hon skötte kläder o packade, biljetter mm. --- När första världskriget bröt ut var hon i Frankrike med en lady som reste till England medan Gerda fastnade vid fronten o blev där flera år.

Ur email från Bengt W (nov 2012)