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June 11, 2015

1653-1655 UNITED STATES (Louisiana) - Royal Street in French Quarter, New Orleans

1653 New Orleans - Royal Street in French Quarter

The French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans, located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River. After New Orleans (La Nouvelle-Orléans in French) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city developed around the Vieux Carré (Old Square). Today the district is often called simply The Quarter, related to changes in the city with American immigration after the Louisiana Purchase. Its most common definition includes all the land stretching along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue (13 blocks) and inland to  North Rampart Street (seven to nine blocks). As of the census of 2010, there were 3,813 people, 2,635 households, and 549 families residing in the neighborhood.

1654 New Orleans - LaBranche House at
Royal Street in French Quarter (1)

Royal Street (Spanish: Calle Real; French: Rue Royale) is one of the oldest streets in the city, and is known today for its antique shops, art galleries, and stately hotels. The prices at its art shops and antique stores tend to be very high; indeed, it has been listed as one of the world's most expensive places to shop. The 700 block features the galleries of New Orleans-based artists Ally Burguieres and George Rodrigue. The portion between St. Louis and St. Ann streets is closed to traffic every afternoon to create a pedestrian zone. During this time, numerous street performers set up there. Although the music performance quality ranges widely, some of the best up-and-coming jazz bands in New Orleans can be heard.

1655 New Orleans - LaBranche House at
Royal Street in French Quarter (2)
 

Most of the extant historic buildings were constructed either in the late 18th century, during the city's period of Spanish rule, or during the first half of the 19th century, after U.S. annexation and statehood, being either of "second generation" Creole or Greek revival styles. Fires in 1788 and 1794 destroyed many of the original French colonial buildings, that is, "first generation" Creole. The most prolific decade was the 1820s, when the city was growing at an amazing rate. The elaborately decorated ironwork balconies, true iron laces, are one of the  neighborhood’s most prominent and memorable features. Probably the best exemple is the lovely old building at number 700, built about 1835 by Jean LaBranche, a wealthy sugar planter. You can find here the sinister story of the building.

About the stamps
On the postcard 1653

The first stamp is part of the series The War of 1812, about which I wrote here. It was issued on January 09, 2015, to mark the 200th anniversary of Major General Andrew Jackson’s triumphant victory over the British at the  Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans is a Limited Edition Forever stamp. Using mixed media, stamp artist Greg Harlin, a specialist in historical paintings, depicts American troops and artillery repelling British forces from behind a mile-long defensive earthwork known as Jackson’s line.

The last stamp, depicting the Brown pelican and the Magnolia, which are Louisiana State Bird and Flower, is part of the series State Birds and Flowers, about which I wrote here.

On the postcard 1654


The first stamp, issued in 1995 depict de American  Flag Over Porch.

The second stamp is one of the two issued under the title $1 Patriotic Wave, about which I wrote here.

On the postcard 1655
About the first stamp, depicting the president Abraham Lincoln, I wrote here. The second stamp, The Star-Spangled Banner, was issued in on January 28, 2014, to marks the 200th anniversary of the flag and song that became the United States anthem.

References
French Quarter - Wikipedia
Royal Street, New Orleans - Wikipedia
New Orleans Haunted Houses- LaBranche Building, 700 Royal Street - Hub Pages

Sender 1653, 1654: Denise
1653, 1654: Sent from Greenvale (New York / United States), on 02.03.2015
1653, 1654: Photo: Grant L. Robertson
Sender 1655: Tom Goats
Sent from New Orleans (Louisiana / United States), on 05.09.2014

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