Late 19th - French Devise Card - Anthropomorphic Monkey Scene - Customizable Advertising Space - Vintage Ephemera - Message Collectible

This late 19th-century document is a fascinating example of a 'carte à devise' or fancy card, popular during the 1880s and 1890s. It features a charming black and white illustration, executed in an engraving style, depicting two anthropomorphic monkeys.

The larger monkey on the left is portrayed as a street sweeper or cleaner, burdened with a large pack on its back, holding a bucket, and carrying a broom. It walks purposefully beside a textured wall. Trailing behind this character is a prominent, unadorned blank space, shaped like a long banner or sheet, specifically designed for personalization. A smaller monkey follows on the right, carrying a ladder and smoking a pipe. Above the scene, partial French text reads 'Défense de' (Forbidden to) and 'Le long de ce mur' (Along this wall). This card's design allowed printers or merchants to insert their specific shop names, advertising messages, or spiritual sayings into the blank area, making it a versatile piece of commercial ephemera.