{"product_id":"etched-copper-printing-plates-for-calling-cards-of-eugene-jeanne-dubillon-plus-unique-and-rare-wwi-photographs","title":"Etched Copper Printing Plates for Calling Cards of Eugene \u0026 Jeanne Dubillon Plus Unique and Rare WWI Photographs","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom the personal section of family items these original copper printing plates are for Eugene Dubillon, Mr \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey were produced between 1900 and 1905 and are still in their original paper wrappings with original impressions of the calling cards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEugene 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft is a Caudron G4. \u003cspan\u003eBy the autumn of 1915 outdated cooperation machines like the Caudron G.4, Farman MF.11 and newer Farman F.40, all under-powered pushers completely unprotected against attack from the rear,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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHopefully Eugene did not spend too much time in the G4 as, otherwise, he would most likely not have survived the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"French Antique Collections","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55301176066389,"sku":null,"price":380.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0176\/5687\/3014\/files\/20261011_160141.jpg?v=1791729669","url":"https:\/\/frenchantiquecollections.com\/products\/etched-copper-printing-plates-for-calling-cards-of-eugene-jeanne-dubillon-plus-unique-and-rare-wwi-photographs","provider":"French Antique Collections","version":"1.0","type":"link"}