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# Rare WWI Era French Postcard — Dinard, Côte d’Émeraude (Emerald Coast)
## "Dinard. - La Plage - The Sands" featuring Historic Bathing Houses
## Written by an American in 1918 mentioning WWI Soldiers & the YMCA!
**Item Overview:**
Up for sale is an incredibly rare, historically significant vintage postcard from Dinard along the Emerald Coast (Côte d’Émeraude) in Brittany, France. Published by the notable regional firm **Édition Guérin (St-Malo)**, this monochrome photolitho depicts a bustling Edwardian-era beach scene complete with long rows of traditional wheeled bathing machines and coastal structures.
What makes this specific specimen an absolute museum-grade treasure is the **handwritten message on the reverse, explicitly written during World War I by an American traveler or volunteer named Helen.**
### Front Side Inscriptions:
* **Printed Titles:** "Côte d'Émeraude - Emerald Coast / 4601. DINARD. - La Plage - G. F. / The Sands"
* **Publisher Mark:** "Edition Guérin, St-Malo (I.-et-V.)"
* **Vintage Handwritten Annotations:** The sender has neatly penned **"Y.M.C.A."** right over the sands where the organization set up camp, and marked an arrow pointing to the **"Hotel de la Plage"** in the top left margin.
### Reverse Side (WWI Historical Transcription):
The letter is addressed to "Dear Father" and reads vertically across the divided back fields:
> *"Dear Father, The beach is now covered with little bath houses at the present minute, but has many groups of American soldiers strolling about on it. Please keep these cards, won't you. We are off for a days' sail — our last day here, sad to say. It has been a great trip — hastily, Helen."*
### Historical Significance:
During the latter half of World War I (specifically 1818–1919), the beautiful resort town of Dinard served as a major Leave Area for the **American Expeditionary Forces (AEF)**. The YMCA took over local hotels (such as the Hotel de la Plage noted on the front) to provide recreation, concerts, and beachfront athletic games for thousands of resting doughboys. Finding a postcard that visually connects the famous Dinard sands directly to a contemporary description of American soldiers strolling the beach makes this an incredibly scarce piece of social military history.
### Condition Report:
* **Overall State:** Excellent vintage condition given its age.
* **Front:** The image is crisp with great contrast. Minor light handling marks in the margins.
* **Back:** Pristine condition. The ink handwriting remains dark, sharp, bold, and 100% legible throughout. No modern pencil marks, tape, or album glue residue.
* **Edges/Corners:** Exceptionally sharp borders with minimal corner wear as shown.
*Please review the high-resolution photos provided to evaluate the exact cosmetic condition for yourself.*
