So I will start this write up by asking if there are any other cards in this series, either other adventures of the three friends, or other cards in the same style but with different characters? And if anyone knows who these three friends are?
This week we are speaking of back to school, and it is fair to say that the most important thing of all about school is making friends, or avoiding people who are not your friends. It is not just a case of socialisation, it is about learning trust, and distrust, and how to fit in, or learning how to seek out your tribe of other mis-fits if you do not. Some of these friends will remain with you all through school, and maybe to the next one, maybe even through your life, whilst others will disappear and never be seen again, or even be met, years later, when you do not really recognise them but they are able to remember your most embarrassing faux pas.
School is a time of massive change, especially for the shy, or those with physical or mental differences. Today I hope that the teachers and staff are able to help with all this, and to understand, and to keep an eye on those who require it. However, I am certain that those most in need of help are also those who are the least likely to ask for such a thing.
This card was printed by J. Minot et Cie, editeurs, 5 Rue Beranger, also of Paris. J. Minot was a person, Charles Antoine Joseph Simon Minot, and he was born on December the 28th, 1847. Strangely, though he, and his parents, were French, he was born in Switzerland.
He was married in 1876, quite late, but it appears the bride was wealthy, as he was able to take over a well established printers, in Paris, shortly after the wedding. He also had a partner at that time, about whom very little seems to be known, his name was Guesnu. He was, at one time, listed first in the company name, and there are suggestions that he was part of the printers that Mr. Minot bought into, especially as the name at that time was Guesnu & Minot. This all changed from 1880 and Mr. Guesnu was no more.
Sadly Mr. Minot did not last too long after that, he died on June the 13th, 1901, in Paris, aged just 53. However the company kept the same name for almost a quarter of a century, so perhaps there was a son and heir.