1998 LAKE GARDA Italy USED Postcard CHURCH TOWER Special EXPO RIVA SCHUH Post...

"Description

you're looking at an authentic 1998 chrome postcard from the scenic western shore of Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) Italy - a captivating snapshot of this breathtaking Italian destination at the end of the 20th century.

This evocative scene captures a distinctive multi-tiered church bell tower (campanile) rising majestically above traditional terracotta-roofed buildings - a quintessential image of Italian architectural heritage.

The composition is artfully framed by tree branches with a lush green field in the foreground creating a perfect balance between natural beauty and human craftsmanship that defines the Lake Garda region.

What makes this postcard particularly special is its rare special event postmark from the 'EXPO RIVA SCHUH' (Riva Shoe Expo) held June 6-9 1998 - a fleeting moment in time captured on this piece of postal history.

The card features an authentic German-language message sent from Italy to the United States providing a tangible connection to international travel and communication in the pre-digital era.

Historical Significance

Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) is Italy's largest lake with a rich history dating back to Roman times and beyond.

The western shore (Gardesana Occidentale) featured on this postcard is renowned for its picturesque villages historic churches and spectacular mountain-meets-water landscapes that have attracted visitors for centuries.

Church bell towers like the one featured have served as both religious and civic landmarks in Italian communities for hundreds of years marking time and calling the faithful to worship.

This postcard was sent during a fascinating transitional period - just before the digital revolution would forever change how we communicate and share travel experiences.

The special 'EXPO RIVA SCHUH' postmark documents an important international footwear trade show that continues to this day but rarely appears on postally used items available to collectors.

Condition

This postcard is in fair to good used condition - exactly what you'd expect from a genuinely traveled piece of postal history with an authentic journey behind it.

The front shows some fading and a red horizontal line across the middle (possibly a printing defect) adding character and authenticity to this genuine traveled item.

The back exhibits aging with some staining and discoloration particularly along edges and corners with visible water stains in the upper portion - telltale signs of a postcard that has truly 'lived'.

Despite these age-related characteristics the text remains clearly legible the postmark is distinct and the stamps are intact - making this a complete and desirable example for collectors.

This kind of authentic aging cannot be replicated and speaks to the card's genuine nature as a true piece of postal history that traveled internationally.

Age/Era

This postcard dates precisely to 1998 as confirmed by the clear June 8 1998 (8.6.98) postmark from Riva del Garda.

The special event cancellation for the 'EXPO RIVA SCHUH' (June 6-9 1998) provides an exact historical context that places this card at a specific moment in time.

The card's photography style printing quality and color palette are typical of late 1990s chrome postcards representing the final era of traditional postcard production before digital photography would transform the medium.

The Italian stamps (500 Lire showing Castello di Rovereto and 800 Lire commemorative stamp for the International Fossil Conference) are excellent examples of late 20th century Italian postal history shortly before the introduction of the Euro would eliminate the historic Lira currency forever.

This card represents the twilight of the traditional postcard era - one of the last generations of postcards before smartphone photos and social media would dramatically reduce their use as travel souvenirs.

Rarity

While Lake Garda postcards are not uncommon finding one with this specific special event postmark for the 'EXPO RIVA SCHUH' trade show adds a layer of uniqueness that elevates it above ordinary tourist postcards.

The combination of the special event postmark international usage with German message to a US destination and dual Italian stamps creates a specific postal history configuration that is increasingly difficult to find.

Used postcards with clear legible postmarks and intact stamps are becoming increasingly scarce as more collectors recognize their historical value and remove them from circulation.

As digital communication continues to dominate authentic postal artifacts like this are disappearing from the market at an alarming rate - once these vintage postcards are acquired by serious collectors they may not resurface for decades.

This specific publisher (Ediz. Poiatti Pietro from Torbole Nago) is a regional Lake Garda producer whose postcards appear less frequently than those from major national publishers adding to this card's collector appeal.

Collector's Note

This postcard would make an excellent addition to collections focused on: Italian topographical views church architecture Lake Garda tourism special event postmarks or late 20th century postal history.

The multilingual captions (Italian French and German) on the reverse reflect the international appeal of Lake Garda and add linguistic interest for collectors of European ephemera.

The card's number (1772) indicates it was part of a larger series documenting the Lake Garda region encouraging the search for companion pieces to create a more comprehensive collection.

As interest in pre-digital travel ephemera continues to grow postcards like this serve as tangible windows into how previous generations experienced and shared their travel memories.

This postcard stands at the crossroads of multiple collecting interests - Italian tourism architectural studies postal history and special event commemoratives - making it more versatile than many single-category collectibles.

Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of vanishing Lake Garda postal history - once this authentic traveled postcard with its special event postmark is gone it's gone forever!"

 _gsrx_vers_1723 (GS 9.9.3 (1723))

 _gsrx_vers_1736 (GS 9.9.5 (1736))

Condition: Used

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.