1898
14.20x
9.30cm
A rare and exceptional early color postcard by Carl Hagenbeck, the German circus and exotic people's promoter whose fairs throughout continental Europe drew large audiences. This card shows an Indian coffeehouse built for an exhibition on the Kurfustendamm, Berlin's most prominent avenue, in 1898. This was just at the very beginning of the postcard craze. The handwritten message, roughly translated says: "Fresh, upright, happy, free! Long live postcard collecting. G. Munsch [sp?]."
Carl's brother John was also a fine publisher of postcards, and worked in Colombo at this time.