Carte postale autographe signée envoyée depuis Le Havre et adressée à Emile Mignard

Handwritten signed postcard sent from Le Havre and addressed to Emile Mignard
Le Havre 11 October 1902, 14.1 x 9 cm, one postcard
Handwritten signed postcard from Victor Segalen, sent from Le Havre and addressed to Emile Mignard. A few lines written in black ink around the black and white photographic reproduction of the steamer “La Touraine”, handwritten address on the verso. Some minor stains.
Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a doctor and Brest-born, was one of Segalen's closest friends of youth whom he met at the Jesuit Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours School in Brest. The writer interacted with this comrade in an abundant and closely followed correspondence in which he described, with humour and intimacy, his daily life in all corners of the world. It was at Mignard's wedding, on 15 February 1905, that Segalen met his wife, Yvonne Hébert.
This postcard had been addressed by Segalen to his friend from the liner La Touraine as he travelled to Tahiti via New York and San Francisco. It was his first major journey, the Breton doctor's “ultime au-revoir d'Europe” “last goodbye to Europe” and, through the text of this postcard, we feel the great excitement of the young man: “Mon yacht de plaisance pour 8 jours, - mon cher Emile - Passe-temps de famille : chercher ma cabine. Tout affecteusement. Victor Le Havre 11 oct. 1902” “My pleasure yacht for 8 days, - my dear Emile - Family hobby: looking for my cabin. Very affectionately, Victor Le Havre 11 Oct. 1902” He also points to two characters in the photograph that he indicates as being “Moi” “Me” and “Commandant Fayolle” “Captain Fayolle”. He clarifies: “N.B. N'ai pas eu encore le mal de mer. Suis pourtant resté dix minutes à bord. [à quai]» et conclue »Rouen exquis / Le Havre idiot” “N.B. Haven't had seasickness yet. However, have been on board for 10 minutes. [in dock].” and concludes “Rouen exquis / Le Havre idiot” “Rouen outstanding / Le Havre idiot”.