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"VINTAGE ÁVILA MEDIEVAL WALLS & LUMINOUS FOUNTAIN POSTCARD - Premium Escudo de Oro Edition
You're looking at a vanishing piece of Spanish heritage documenting one of Europe's most spectacular medieval walled cities before mass tourism forever changed its character.
This increasingly scarce Escudo de Oro premium quality postcard captures an authentic slice of 1970s Ávila showcasing both its magnificent UNESCO-protected medieval walls and a now-historic fountain installation that may no longer exist in this form.
Description
This exceptional vintage postcard showcases the breathtaking medieval fortifications of Ávila Spain featuring its perfectly preserved crenellated walls and defensive towers dramatically contrasted against a brilliant blue Spanish sky.
The foreground is dominated by an elegant fountain («fuente luminosa») with its impressive central water jet rising majestically before the ancient stone battlements that have guarded this Castilian city since the 11th century.
What makes this image particularly valuable to collectors is how it perfectly captures both the timeless medieval architecture and the specific 1970s presentation of this UNESCO World Heritage site including period details like the fountain arrangement and visitors exploring the walls that document a specific moment in Ávila's tourism development.
The exceptional print quality showcases Dominguez Madrid's renowned color reproduction capturing the warm tones of the ancient stone walls the crystalline spray of the fountain waters and the dramatic shadows cast by the fortifications that have protected Ávila since medieval times.
The inclusion of the official Ávila coat of arms in the upper corner authenticates this as a premium government-approved representation of this historically significant Castilian treasure.
Premium Collector Edition
This is not an ordinary tourist postcard but part of the prestigious Escudo de Oro (Golden Shield) quality-marked series - representing Spain's highest standard for cultural heritage documentation.
The distinctive multilingual 'friendship postcard' format with text in six languages represents a specific premium format produced during Spain's tourism golden age under Franco's later years when the country was aggressively courting international visitors.
Designated as 'N.° 25' in the coveted Ávila series this is part of a carefully curated collection documenting Spain's most important historical sites during a pivotal era in its tourism development.
The legal deposit number (B-8502-VII) places this in a specific Spanish government-registered publication series that provides definitive provenance for serious collectors of Spanish ephemera.
Historical Significance
This postcard documents a crucial transitional moment in Spanish tourism history - the late Franco/early democratic transition period represented the beginning of Spain's emergence as a global tourism powerhouse.
What you're seeing is a disappearing documentation of Ávila from the years when Spain was first promoting its medieval heritage internationally before mass tourism would dramatically change how these historic sites were presented and experienced.
The specific arrangement of the fountain plaza visible in this image provides valuable historical documentation of urban presentation that may have been significantly modified in subsequent decades of development and restoration.
Ávila's walls represent the most completely preserved medieval city fortifications in Spain and quite possibly all of Europe making any vintage documentation of their historical appearance of significant cultural value.
This image preserves a moment when visitors could still directly interact with the ancient fortifications in ways that may be restricted today due to conservation concerns showing people standing along the battlements in a manner that captures the more casual heritage management of the era.
UNESCO World Heritage Connection
The medieval walls of Ávila were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 making earlier documentation like this postcard particularly valuable to collectors interested in World Heritage sites.
The postcard predates this prestigious international designation showing the site in its pre-UNESCO recognition condition providing important historical context for how the fortifications appeared before heightened conservation protocols were implemented.
For collectors of UNESCO heritage sites this represents an authentic period documentation of one of Spain's first World Heritage designations created during the formative years of international heritage recognition.
The image captures the dramatic visual impact that led to Ávila's selection for this prestigious global recognition showcasing the complete circuit of walls with their 88 semicircular towers and nine gates that make it an outstanding example of a medieval fortified city.
Condition
Fair to good unused vintage condition that preserves this increasingly valuable documentation of Ávila's medieval walls and fountain plaza as they appeared in the early 1970s.
The front image retains remarkable clarity and vibrant color that allows you to examine details of the stone construction fountain design and architectural elements with exceptional precision.
The card shows expected age-appropriate yellowing consistent with its 50+ year age that adds to its authentic vintage character without compromising the historical documentation value.
This unused example has never been written on or mailed keeping it in collector condition - increasingly difficult to find as most such cards were either mailed or damaged over the decades.
Age/Era
This postcard dates to circa 1968-1975 based on the legal deposit number printing style and specific presentation of Ávila during Spain's pivotal tourism development period under late Francoism and early democratic transition.
Published by Dominguez Madrid and distributed by Ediciones FISA Barcelona representing the golden age of Spanish postcard production when these companies were creating definitive visual documentation of Spain's cultural heritage.
The distinctive multilingual format with 'friendship postcard' designation in six languages represents a specific marketing approach from this era aimed at international tourists visiting Spain during its emergence as a global tourism destination.
The photographic style paper quality and printing techniques are hallmarks of premium Spanish chrome postcards from the early 1970s when Spain was rapidly modernizing its tourism infrastructure and promotional materials.
Special Features
The reverse prominently displays text in six languages (Spanish French English German Portuguese) reflecting Spain's international tourism aspirations during this pivotal era.
Contains the prestigious Escudo de Oro (Golden Shield) quality mark that was reserved for premium documentation of Spanish cultural heritage sites and monuments.
The descriptive text beautifully captures the essence of this view: 'Un bello rincón Abulense (fuente luminosa)' - 'A beautiful corner of Ávila (luminous fountain)'.
The Spanish coat of arms visible in the image authenticates this as an officially recognized representation of national heritage during a period when Spain was carefully controlling how its cultural treasures were presented internationally.
Rarity
While standard Spanish tourist postcards exist in reasonable numbers premium Escudo de Oro editions in unused condition are becoming increasingly difficult to find as they disappear into permanent collections or are damaged over time.
The specific combination of Ávila's medieval walls the distinctive fountain and the premium multilingual format creates a specialized collecting appeal that spans multiple categories (medieval architecture UNESCO sites Spanish tourism history).
Dominguez Madrid postcards with the Escudo de Oro quality mark have developed a dedicated collector following as Spanish ephemera becomes more widely appreciated in the international collecting market.
Once original documentation of historic Spanish sites from this pivotal tourism development era is gone it's gone forever—this may be your only opportunity to acquire this time capsule of Ávila before the UNESCO designation that would forever change how this site was presented and preserved.
Collector's Note
This postcard represents a perfect addition to collections focusing on medieval architecture UNESCO World Heritage sites Spanish tourism history or fortress/castle documentation from before the era of mass heritage tourism.
The striking composition balancing the dramatic fountain against the imposing medieval fortifications creates an exceptionally appealing image that displays beautifully when framed.
For those with interest in Spanish history medieval fortifications or documenting UNESCO sites before their international designation this offers authentic period documentation from a pivotal moment in Spain's cultural heritage presentation.
This may be your ONLY CHANCE to own this specific premium documentation of Ávila's medieval walls and historic fountain before it disappears forever into a specialized archive or museum collection.
Shipping Information
Your vintage postcard will be carefully packaged in an archival sleeve and shipped in a rigid mailer to ensure safe arrival.
Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!
Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of vanishing Spanish heritage that captures the authentic character of Ávila's magnificent medieval walls and historic fountain plaza before UNESCO recognition and mass tourism forever transformed how these remarkable fortifications were presented and experienced."
_gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))
Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.
Gosla Antiques & Collectibles