Vin Désiles is an alcohol-based tonic preparation resembling a kind of cinchona wine. The inventor was the Frenchman Alexandre Choffé. To promote his tonic a huge series of black and white postcards was published during the first decades of the 20th Century. Many actors were pictured for this series called 'Collection artistique du Vin Désiles', drinking a glass of le Vin Désiles. Film historian Ivo Blom loves to collect these vintage gems and we selected 20 of his Vin Désiles postcards for this post.
![Cleo de Merode]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Au délicieux Vin Désiles qui donne la santé et la gaité (To the delicious Vin Désiles that gives health and cheerfulness).
Cleo de Mérode (1875-1966) was a French dancer of the Belle Époque. She has been referred to as the "first real celebrity icon" and the "first modern celebrity". She was also the first woman whose photographic image, due in particular to photographers Nadar and Léopold-Émile Reutlinger, was distributed worldwide.
![Gabrielle Robinne (Odéon)]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Vive le vin Désiles, je lui dois ma force et ma gaité. (Long live the Désiles wine, I owe my strength and cheerfulness to it).
Gabrielle Robinne(1886-1980) was a French stage and film actress, who had the peak of her film career in the 1910s.
![Agnes Borgo]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger, Paris. Caption: Au généreux et réconfortant Vin Desiles (To the generous and comforting Vin Desiles.)
Agnès Borgo (1879-1958) was a Corsican soprano. This card depicts her in her attire for Ernest Reyer's opera 'Salammbo'.
![Andrée Mégard (Odéon)]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Le vin Desiles? C'est la vie en bouteille et quand vous le buvez, ... vous plein de vers vous réssusciterez! Theophile Gautier. (The Désiles wine? It is life in a bottle and when you drink it, ... with a full glass you will resurrect! Theophile Gautier.)
French actress and stage beauty Andrée Mégard (1869–1952) was on the Paris stage from 1896 to 1925, appearing in shows including Shakespearean tragedies, comedies, and plays directed by her husband, Firmin Gémier. She played the love interest, Roxane, in a 1913 revival of Edmond Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac', while she was having an affair with Rostand himself. She appeared in one silent film, La tour de Nesle (1909). Mégard was considered "tall, graceful, and distinguished-looking." Her hairstyles and the designs of her costumes, hats, and gowns were reported in detail, internationally, often with photographs or drawings showing their features.
![Zina De Nuovina]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger. Caption: Je dis avec tous et toutes: vive le vin Desiles! (I say with all: long live Desiles wine!).
Marguerite 'Zina' de Nuovina, originally Marguerite Lamandi nee Moldave (1865-1936) was a Romanian mezzosoprano, who debuted in 1889. Around 1900, she became a highly acclaimed singer in such operas as 'Carmen', 'Cavalleria rusticana' and 'Lohengrin'.
![Felix Huguenet]()
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger. Caption: Le Vin Desiles est un beuvage délicieux et réconfortant que je recommande à mes contemporains. (The Desiles wine is a delicious and comforting beverage that I recommend to my contemporaries).
Félix Huguenet (1858-1926) only stayed two years with the Comédie Française but he had a rich stage career between the 1880s and the 1920s. He played in four films, including Mademoiselle de La Seiglière (André Antoine, 1921).
![Mayol]()
French postcard in the Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Bonfort. Caption: Whenever I drink Vin Désiles, my voice is flexible and easy.
Félix Mayol (1872-1941) was a popular French singer of the Belle Epoque. French Wikipedia lists some 120 songs. After a 1905 phonoscènes series at Gaumont, Mayol acted in five more films, three silent films, including Le filon du Bouif (Louis Osmont, 1922), and two early sound films, Aux urnes, citoyens!/Tu sera député (Jean Hémard, 1932) and La dame de chez Maxim's (Alexander Korda, 1933) starring Florelle.
![Yvonne de Bray]()
French postcard in the Collection Artistique de Vin Désiles by G.P., Paris, no. 8. Caption: Dans les temps d'autrefois, les bons ameublements on se construisaient en bois des îles, On construit aujourd’hui les bons tempéraments en absorbant du vin Désiles. (Once, they constructed good furniture from wood of the islands. Nowadays they construct good temper with Désiles wine).
Yvonne de Bray (1887-1954) was a French stage and screen actress, famous for her role as Sophie in Jean Cocteau's film Les parents terribles (1948).
![Geraldine Farrar]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Boyer. Caption: I've the pleasure to recommend the excellent Désiles Wine, Geraldine Farrar, Imperial Opera of Berlin.
American soprano opera singer and film actress Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967) was noted for her glamorous beauty, acting ability, and the timbre of her voice. Barely 20, she was already the toast of Berlin. Later at the Met in New York, she had a large following among young women, who were nicknamed ‘Gerry-flappers’. Farrar also starred in more than a dozen silent films from 1915 to 1920. She was married to and co-starred with Dutch matinee idol Lou Tellegen.
![Polin]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: P. Berger. Caption: Dans mes longues tournées à travers la France ce qui me soutient et me donne des forces c'est votre merveilleux vin Désiles. (During my long tours across France, it is your wonderful Vin Désiles that supports me and gives me strength.)
French comedian Polin (1863-1927) was one of the greatest stars of the café-concerts of Paris. His interpretations were sober and had nuance and finesse, which were rare in the café-concerts. From 1910 on, he also appeared in film and theatre, including Sacha Guitry's play 'Le Grand Duc/The Grand Duke' (1921) with Lucien and Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps.
Alexandre Choffé was born on 12 January 1845 in Chaumont (Haute Marne). He was the son of Nicolas Choffé, a baker, and Françoise Badet. Alexandre succeeded in completing his secondary education, obtaining a bachelor's degree in literature in 1862 and a bachelor's degree in science in 1863.
After being dismissed for indiscipline from the military school of Strasbourg, he was nevertheless accepted to the examination of auxiliary doctor of the navy and entered in function in Brest in 1868. After many trips around the world, he decided to study medicine at the Faculty of Montpellier and officially became a doctor in 1873.
He invented many medicinal recipes, but the most famous were Désiline and Vin Désiles. His naval anchor framed by his two initials (A.C) will be his trademark and will be affixed to the packaging of the "medicines". Vin Désiles will however be sold in pharmacies.
Vin Désiles is recommended to be taken before each of the two meals, in order to feel at the maximum these warming and tonic effects on the muscular fibres! Here is the composition:
Special liqueur wine at 15° - 1 litre Kola nut - 11 gr Coca leaves - 14 gr Quiquina succirubra - 13 gr Theobrama - cocoa - 3 gr Iodine (tincture Codex) - 0.40 gr Lme phosphate - 1 gr Glycerine chemically pure 30° - 2 gr Orange Alcohol - 18 gr Lithium carbonate - 0.050gr.
![Gabrielle Réjane]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger, Paris. Caption: Tous les artistes du théàtre Réjane prendront du vin Désiles. (All the artists of the Rejane theater will take the Désiles wine.)
Gabrielle Réjane (1856-1920) was a successful French stage actress and early silent film actress. She is most famous for her role as Catherine, in Sardou's play 'Madame Sans-Gene' (1893), which she filmed twice.
![Régina Badet]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Boyer. Caption: Oh! Vin Désiles! You give us the force, the sparkle ... the success.
French actress and dancer Régina Badet (1876-1949) was a star of the Opéra-Comique in Paris. She also had a short career in the French silent cinema.
![Polaire]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Pirou. Caption: Drink the wine Désiles. Doctors won't have bread. Polaire.
French singer and actress Polaire (1874-1939) had a career in the entertainment industry that stretched from the early 1890s to the mid-1930s and encompassed the range from music-hall singer to stage and film actress. Her most successful period professionally was from the mid-1890s to the beginning of the First World War. From 1909, Polaire appeared in several film roles. After two films at Pathé frères, she went to Germany to play a Cuban lady in Zouza (Reinhard Bruck, 1911). Back in France she acted again at Pathé in Le visiteur/The Visitor (Albert Capellani, René Leprince, 1911), but she mostly was active at the Éclair film company between 1911 and 1914, starting with Le poison de l’humanité/The Poison of Humanity (Émile Chautard, Victorin Jasset, 1911). From 1912 to 1914 she did a series of six films with then young and upcoming film director Maurice Tourneur, including Les gaîtés de l'escadron/The Funny Regiment (1913).
![Sarah Bernhardt, publicity for Vin Désiles]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Caption: The Désiles wine is poetic and sweet, Sarah Bernhardt.
French vedette Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) has been referred to as 'the most famous actress in the history of the world'. She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning her the nickname 'The Divine Sarah'. Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s and was soon high in demand in both Americas too. And she was one of the first film stars. What a woman!
![Paul Capellani, publicity for Vin Désiles]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Manuel. Capellani's name is mispelled on the card. Caption: 'Je voudrais être poète pour chanter le vin Désiles, comme acteur, je me contente d'en boire.' (I wish I was a poet so I could hymn Désiles wine, as actor I am content to just drink it.)
Paul Capellani (1877-1960) was a stage and film actor who was active in French and American silent films. He was the younger brother of the film director of the silent era Albert Capellani.
![Max Dearly]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by Ruck. Photo: Paul Boyer. Caption: Qu'est-ce qu'il y a dans mon verre? Du Vin Désiles, parbleu!!! (What's that in my glass? Its is Désiles wine, parbleu!!!).
Max Dearly (1874-1943) was a French actor, famous for his parts in the 1930s in French sound films but also for his previous career in Parisian vaudeville.
![Maurice de Féraudy]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Henri Manuel. Caption: 'Le Vin Désiles est un vin délicieux, plein de saveur et de force... il fait du bien aux faibles... et ne fait pas du mal aux solides... au contraire!' (Vin Désiles is a delicious wine, full of taste and vigor. While it does well to the weak, and means no harm to the solid ones, on the contrary!)
Maurice de Féraudy (1859-1932) was an actor of the Comédie-Française and a French director. He was also a notable actor and director in French silent cinema.
![Gabriel Signoret, Vin Désiles]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Henri Manuel. Caption: 'Que ce soit en vers ou en prose, On t'a chanté vers genereux, Pardonnez-moi ces vers que j'ose, C'est pour te chanter avec eux, Dédié au Vin Désiles.' (Whether in verse or prose, generous verses have been dedicated to you. Permit me to dedicate these verses to you, It's to praise you together with the others. Dedicated to V.D.)
Gabriel Signoret aka Signoret (1878-1937) was a French actor and director who played in some 85 films, mostly silent ones.
![Yvette Guilbert]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Paul Berger. Caption: Une ancienne malade joliment reconnaissante au Vin Désiles! (A former patient who is now cheerfully grateful to V.D.)
Yvette Guilbert (1865-1944) was a French cabaret singer and actress of the Belle Époque. Her ingenious delivery of songs charged with risqué meaning made her famous. She also appeared in some classic silent films.
![André Allard (Opéra Comique)]()
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Paul Berger. Caption: Le secret de la force d'Hercule, il boit tous les matins un ver de Vin Desiles. (The secret of Hercules' strength, he drinks a glass of Desiles Wine every morning.)
André Allard (1874-1938) was a famous French baritone. He studied singing at the Conservatoire de Paris and made his debut in 1897 at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. While in 1900 he sang at Covent Garden, in the early 1900s he was highly active at the Paris Opéra Comique, and in the early 1910s at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
Source: Cartes Postales Anciennes (French).
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Au délicieux Vin Désiles qui donne la santé et la gaité (To the delicious Vin Désiles that gives health and cheerfulness).
Cleo de Mérode (1875-1966) was a French dancer of the Belle Époque. She has been referred to as the "first real celebrity icon" and the "first modern celebrity". She was also the first woman whose photographic image, due in particular to photographers Nadar and Léopold-Émile Reutlinger, was distributed worldwide.
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Vive le vin Désiles, je lui dois ma force et ma gaité. (Long live the Désiles wine, I owe my strength and cheerfulness to it).
Gabrielle Robinne(1886-1980) was a French stage and film actress, who had the peak of her film career in the 1910s.
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger, Paris. Caption: Au généreux et réconfortant Vin Desiles (To the generous and comforting Vin Desiles.)
Agnès Borgo (1879-1958) was a Corsican soprano. This card depicts her in her attire for Ernest Reyer's opera 'Salammbo'.
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger. Caption: Le vin Desiles? C'est la vie en bouteille et quand vous le buvez, ... vous plein de vers vous réssusciterez! Theophile Gautier. (The Désiles wine? It is life in a bottle and when you drink it, ... with a full glass you will resurrect! Theophile Gautier.)
French actress and stage beauty Andrée Mégard (1869–1952) was on the Paris stage from 1896 to 1925, appearing in shows including Shakespearean tragedies, comedies, and plays directed by her husband, Firmin Gémier. She played the love interest, Roxane, in a 1913 revival of Edmond Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac', while she was having an affair with Rostand himself. She appeared in one silent film, La tour de Nesle (1909). Mégard was considered "tall, graceful, and distinguished-looking." Her hairstyles and the designs of her costumes, hats, and gowns were reported in detail, internationally, often with photographs or drawings showing their features.
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger. Caption: Je dis avec tous et toutes: vive le vin Desiles! (I say with all: long live Desiles wine!).
Marguerite 'Zina' de Nuovina, originally Marguerite Lamandi nee Moldave (1865-1936) was a Romanian mezzosoprano, who debuted in 1889. Around 1900, she became a highly acclaimed singer in such operas as 'Carmen', 'Cavalleria rusticana' and 'Lohengrin'.
French postcard in the Collection artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Berger. Caption: Le Vin Desiles est un beuvage délicieux et réconfortant que je recommande à mes contemporains. (The Desiles wine is a delicious and comforting beverage that I recommend to my contemporaries).
Félix Huguenet (1858-1926) only stayed two years with the Comédie Française but he had a rich stage career between the 1880s and the 1920s. He played in four films, including Mademoiselle de La Seiglière (André Antoine, 1921).
French postcard in the Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles by S.I.P. Photo: Bonfort. Caption: Whenever I drink Vin Désiles, my voice is flexible and easy.
Félix Mayol (1872-1941) was a popular French singer of the Belle Epoque. French Wikipedia lists some 120 songs. After a 1905 phonoscènes series at Gaumont, Mayol acted in five more films, three silent films, including Le filon du Bouif (Louis Osmont, 1922), and two early sound films, Aux urnes, citoyens!/Tu sera député (Jean Hémard, 1932) and La dame de chez Maxim's (Alexander Korda, 1933) starring Florelle.
French postcard in the Collection Artistique de Vin Désiles by G.P., Paris, no. 8. Caption: Dans les temps d'autrefois, les bons ameublements on se construisaient en bois des îles, On construit aujourd’hui les bons tempéraments en absorbant du vin Désiles. (Once, they constructed good furniture from wood of the islands. Nowadays they construct good temper with Désiles wine).
Yvonne de Bray (1887-1954) was a French stage and screen actress, famous for her role as Sophie in Jean Cocteau's film Les parents terribles (1948).
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Boyer. Caption: I've the pleasure to recommend the excellent Désiles Wine, Geraldine Farrar, Imperial Opera of Berlin.
American soprano opera singer and film actress Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967) was noted for her glamorous beauty, acting ability, and the timbre of her voice. Barely 20, she was already the toast of Berlin. Later at the Met in New York, she had a large following among young women, who were nicknamed ‘Gerry-flappers’. Farrar also starred in more than a dozen silent films from 1915 to 1920. She was married to and co-starred with Dutch matinee idol Lou Tellegen.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: P. Berger. Caption: Dans mes longues tournées à travers la France ce qui me soutient et me donne des forces c'est votre merveilleux vin Désiles. (During my long tours across France, it is your wonderful Vin Désiles that supports me and gives me strength.)
French comedian Polin (1863-1927) was one of the greatest stars of the café-concerts of Paris. His interpretations were sober and had nuance and finesse, which were rare in the café-concerts. From 1910 on, he also appeared in film and theatre, including Sacha Guitry's play 'Le Grand Duc/The Grand Duke' (1921) with Lucien and Sacha Guitry and Yvonne Printemps.
Warming and tonic effects on the muscular fibres
Alexandre Choffé was born on 12 January 1845 in Chaumont (Haute Marne). He was the son of Nicolas Choffé, a baker, and Françoise Badet. Alexandre succeeded in completing his secondary education, obtaining a bachelor's degree in literature in 1862 and a bachelor's degree in science in 1863.
After being dismissed for indiscipline from the military school of Strasbourg, he was nevertheless accepted to the examination of auxiliary doctor of the navy and entered in function in Brest in 1868. After many trips around the world, he decided to study medicine at the Faculty of Montpellier and officially became a doctor in 1873.
He invented many medicinal recipes, but the most famous were Désiline and Vin Désiles. His naval anchor framed by his two initials (A.C) will be his trademark and will be affixed to the packaging of the "medicines". Vin Désiles will however be sold in pharmacies.
Vin Désiles is recommended to be taken before each of the two meals, in order to feel at the maximum these warming and tonic effects on the muscular fibres! Here is the composition:
Special liqueur wine at 15° - 1 litre Kola nut - 11 gr Coca leaves - 14 gr Quiquina succirubra - 13 gr Theobrama - cocoa - 3 gr Iodine (tincture Codex) - 0.40 gr Lme phosphate - 1 gr Glycerine chemically pure 30° - 2 gr Orange Alcohol - 18 gr Lithium carbonate - 0.050gr.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Reutlinger, Paris. Caption: Tous les artistes du théàtre Réjane prendront du vin Désiles. (All the artists of the Rejane theater will take the Désiles wine.)
Gabrielle Réjane (1856-1920) was a successful French stage actress and early silent film actress. She is most famous for her role as Catherine, in Sardou's play 'Madame Sans-Gene' (1893), which she filmed twice.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Boyer. Caption: Oh! Vin Désiles! You give us the force, the sparkle ... the success.
French actress and dancer Régina Badet (1876-1949) was a star of the Opéra-Comique in Paris. She also had a short career in the French silent cinema.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Pirou. Caption: Drink the wine Désiles. Doctors won't have bread. Polaire.
French singer and actress Polaire (1874-1939) had a career in the entertainment industry that stretched from the early 1890s to the mid-1930s and encompassed the range from music-hall singer to stage and film actress. Her most successful period professionally was from the mid-1890s to the beginning of the First World War. From 1909, Polaire appeared in several film roles. After two films at Pathé frères, she went to Germany to play a Cuban lady in Zouza (Reinhard Bruck, 1911). Back in France she acted again at Pathé in Le visiteur/The Visitor (Albert Capellani, René Leprince, 1911), but she mostly was active at the Éclair film company between 1911 and 1914, starting with Le poison de l’humanité/The Poison of Humanity (Émile Chautard, Victorin Jasset, 1911). From 1912 to 1914 she did a series of six films with then young and upcoming film director Maurice Tourneur, including Les gaîtés de l'escadron/The Funny Regiment (1913).
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Caption: The Désiles wine is poetic and sweet, Sarah Bernhardt.
French vedette Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) has been referred to as 'the most famous actress in the history of the world'. She developed a reputation as a serious dramatic actress, earning her the nickname 'The Divine Sarah'. Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s and was soon high in demand in both Americas too. And she was one of the first film stars. What a woman!
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Manuel. Capellani's name is mispelled on the card. Caption: 'Je voudrais être poète pour chanter le vin Désiles, comme acteur, je me contente d'en boire.' (I wish I was a poet so I could hymn Désiles wine, as actor I am content to just drink it.)
Paul Capellani (1877-1960) was a stage and film actor who was active in French and American silent films. He was the younger brother of the film director of the silent era Albert Capellani.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by Ruck. Photo: Paul Boyer. Caption: Qu'est-ce qu'il y a dans mon verre? Du Vin Désiles, parbleu!!! (What's that in my glass? Its is Désiles wine, parbleu!!!).
Max Dearly (1874-1943) was a French actor, famous for his parts in the 1930s in French sound films but also for his previous career in Parisian vaudeville.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Henri Manuel. Caption: 'Le Vin Désiles est un vin délicieux, plein de saveur et de force... il fait du bien aux faibles... et ne fait pas du mal aux solides... au contraire!' (Vin Désiles is a delicious wine, full of taste and vigor. While it does well to the weak, and means no harm to the solid ones, on the contrary!)
Maurice de Féraudy (1859-1932) was an actor of the Comédie-Française and a French director. He was also a notable actor and director in French silent cinema.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Henri Manuel. Caption: 'Que ce soit en vers ou en prose, On t'a chanté vers genereux, Pardonnez-moi ces vers que j'ose, C'est pour te chanter avec eux, Dédié au Vin Désiles.' (Whether in verse or prose, generous verses have been dedicated to you. Permit me to dedicate these verses to you, It's to praise you together with the others. Dedicated to V.D.)
Gabriel Signoret aka Signoret (1878-1937) was a French actor and director who played in some 85 films, mostly silent ones.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Paul Berger. Caption: Une ancienne malade joliment reconnaissante au Vin Désiles! (A former patient who is now cheerfully grateful to V.D.)
Yvette Guilbert (1865-1944) was a French cabaret singer and actress of the Belle Époque. Her ingenious delivery of songs charged with risqué meaning made her famous. She also appeared in some classic silent films.
French postcard in the 'Collection Artistique du Vin Désiles' series by S.I.P. Photo: Paul Berger. Caption: Le secret de la force d'Hercule, il boit tous les matins un ver de Vin Desiles. (The secret of Hercules' strength, he drinks a glass of Desiles Wine every morning.)
André Allard (1874-1938) was a famous French baritone. He studied singing at the Conservatoire de Paris and made his debut in 1897 at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. While in 1900 he sang at Covent Garden, in the early 1900s he was highly active at the Paris Opéra Comique, and in the early 1910s at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
Source: Cartes Postales Anciennes (French).