Vide poches

This French term, which translates as ‘empty pockets’, is applied to cardboard holders that were intended for the temporary storage of domestic papers, especially bills. Designed as decorative pieces to hang on the wall, they were usually printed in colour, embossed, and shaped. Some have block calendars attached. Commonly printed in large numbers by lithography and overprinted from type with an advertisement of a local supplier.

c. 1900