This Dubillon family collection includes etched copper calling-card printing plates dating to circa 1900–1905, retained in their original paper wrappings with impressions of the cards. It also includes a photograph dated September 1916 showing Eugène Dubillon with an aircraft, with a note and signature on the reverse, and a mounted photograph of a French infantry regiment. A hand-signed letter from Bruno Dubillon accompanies the collection.
From the personal section of family items these original copper printing plates are for Eugene Dubillon, Mr & Mrs Dubillon and another for Eugene. The last had to change because, after their marriage their address changed and so, of course, did the calling cards.
They were produced between 1900 and 1905 and are still in their original paper wrappings with original impressions of the calling cards.
Eugene Dubillon was a keen aviator who was a friend of Louis Bleriot. He volunteered for the French Airforce in 1914 and saw action until his demob in 1918. Enclosed in this rare set is a photograph of him with his aircraft dated September 1916 and with a note and signature on the back. Eugene is standing to the left in dark clothing with a darker Kepi and the ubiquitous French moustache.
The aircraft is a Caudron G4. By the autumn of 1915 outdated cooperation machines like the Caudron G.4, Farman MF.11 and newer Farman F.40, all under-powered pushers completely unprotected against attack from the rear, were in desperate need of replacement. Yet for the politicians – with the vociferous support of bomber specialists like Breguet, Michelin and Voisin – heavy bombers were the first priority: ‘The most urgent task’, the army committee had insisted in July, ‘is to create a bomber force capable of long-range group operation, with the aim of striking at the lifeblood of enemy manufacturing.
Hopefully Eugene did not spend too much time in the G4 as, otherwise, he would most likely not have survived the war.
A very poignant photograph of a very brave man who, since he was by then a director of Le Bon Marche, could easily have avoided being involved in the war, but chose to do his duty.
The second photograph was taken by Eugene and must have meant a lot to him as he had it mounted. It is of a French infantry regiment but I do not know which one.
This collection will ship with full international tracking as standard and will be accompanied by a hand signed letter from Bruno Dubillon, great grandson of Eugene Dubillon.
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