Elly Snowe

Postcards, pictures and engravings from my own collection.

La reine des colosses
Postcard, probably 1900s.

Text

Roughly translated:
Teresina is the fattest woman on earth, she weighs 265kg. She was born in Italy from normal parents (sic!) weighing 9kg.
When she was 5 years old, a manager noticed her and made her tour accross the world. She won several awards at exhibitions and was, at last, awarded the “colossus queen” title.
In French:
Biographie de Térésina.
Teresina est la plus grosse femme du monde, elle pèse 265 kgs. Née en Italie de parents nomaux, Teresina en venant au monde pesait 9 kgs.
A l’âge de 5 ans elle fut remarquée par un impresario qui lui fit faire une tournée à travers le monde. Plusieurs fois elle obtint des récompenses dans les expositions et fut finalement nommée Reine des Colosses.

Handwritten, early fat-shaming example

Roughly translated (from some weird French):
If you have all your members and can use them, it’s beautiful! There’s some flesh there (mie = soft part of the bread actually). This young lady is 19 years old.
In French:
Beau qui a tous ses membres et qui peut s’en servire (sic)! Il y a de la mie! Cette jeune fille a 19 printemps.

Elly Snowe’s collection

The May Queen

Elly Snowe’s Collection

The May Queen

Elly Snowe’s Collection

The May Queen

Elly Snowe’s collection

The May Queen

Elly Snowe’s collection

I won’t stop wearing whatever I like or eating in public because of fat-shaming. My dog may be funny, but I’m the one who bites! Watch out! (Missing words on this 1930’s postcard)
 
Elly Snowe’s collection

I won’t stop wearing whatever I like or eating in public because of fat-shaming.
My dog may be funny, but I’m the one who bites! Watch out!

(Missing words on this 1930’s postcard)

 

Elly Snowe’s collection

Fatness in popular culture.
Postcard sent in Belgium in 1927.
Inter-Art Co., Florence House, Barnes, S.W., “COMIQUE” Series, 1869.
Illustration by Donald McGill.

Elly Snowe’s collection


Fatness in popular culture.

Postcard sent in Belgium in 1927.

Inter-Art Co., Florence House, Barnes, S.W., “COMIQUE” Series, 1869.

Illustration by Donald McGill.

Elly Snowe’s collection

This collage was a birthday present for my friend Emilie.

By Elly Snowe

This collage was a birthday present for my friend Emilie.

By Elly Snowe

Mackenzie Bell, The Heart’s Summer and Other Poems.

Circa 1913.

This is a tiny book: the cover is 8,5 x 6,5 cm. The binding seems to be made out of a fabric, it is very soft and similar to velvet.

Elly Snowe’s Collection

I went to the second-hand bookstore and I found those victorian books.

I went to the second-hand bookstore and I found those victorian books.

Article: “Les reines de beauté à Ostende”.
Le Soir Illustré, 23 juillet 1932, n° 231.
In 1932 the Miss Universe pageant took place in Belgium (Spa and Ostend).
Elly Snowe’s collection


Article: “Les reines de beauté à Ostende”.

Le Soir Illustré, 23 juillet 1932, n° 231.

In 1932 the Miss Universe pageant took place in Belgium (Spa and Ostend).

Elly Snowe’s collection

hexele:

ellysnowe:

Postcards sent in Belgium in 1928 and 1929 both by the same person (JP) to Mlle Fernande T.

Elly Snowe’s collection.

I have another pic in this series! So cute.
image 

Oh great, another postcard! Want it!!!

Netta Duchateau, Miss Belgium and Miss Universe 1931.
Elly Snowe’s collection.

Netta Duchateau, Miss Belgium and Miss Universe 1931.

Elly Snowe’s collection.

Postcard sent in Belgium for New Year 1949.
Elly Snowe’s collection.

Postcard sent in Belgium for New Year 1949.

Elly Snowe’s collection.

Happy New Year! Bonne année!
Postcard sent in Belgium in 1920.
Elly Snowe’s collection.

Happy New Year! Bonne année!

Postcard sent in Belgium in 1920.

Elly Snowe’s collection.

“Mémoire d’une jeune fille rangée” is a novel written by Simone De Beauvoir.I made this collage using the cover of a 1968 version of the book. I don’t know who painted the cover although there’s a signature on it.
On the top, the text is “Il y avait un moment qui revenait souvent dans la bouche des adultes: c’est inconvenant. Le contenu en était quelque peu incertain. Je lui avais d’abord attribué un sens plus ou moins scatologique”.
I sent it as a postcard to a dear friend of mine and an extraordinary feminist because it’s one of her favourite books.
By using the word ‘révoltée’, did I turn Beauvoir into a riot grrrl?
by elly snowe…

“Mémoire d’une jeune fille rangée” is a novel written by Simone De Beauvoir.
I made this collage using the cover of a 1968 version of the book. I don’t know who painted the cover although there’s a signature on it.

On the top, the text is “Il y avait un moment qui revenait souvent dans la bouche des adultes: c’est inconvenant. Le contenu en était quelque peu incertain. Je lui avais d’abord attribué un sens plus ou moins scatologique”.

I sent it as a postcard to a dear friend of mine and an extraordinary feminist because it’s one of her favourite books.

By using the word ‘révoltée’, did I turn Beauvoir into a riot grrrl?

by elly snowe…