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- Printed on the address side with a statement that the number is on the other side,
or sometimes on the picture side with a number, eg for Artige cards. In either case, with details of the printer or publisher on the address side, something often lacking in earlier and later cards.
This is an official approval for French cards issued during the first World War.
There is an account of its stages at
www.pedagogie.ac-aix-marseille.fr/upload/docs/application/pdf/2017-01/dossierpedacartespostales14182.pdf. There were earlier incidents but the first special circular on postcards was not until March 1915. It banned the publication of "postcards containing scenes or legends likely to have an unfortunate influence on the spirit of the army or the population, as well as postcards representing new materials, weapons, devices of any kind. Publishers must submit the project to the administration" (in different regions) "and obtain the visa before any publication. The visa number will appear on the illustrated front of the card." For postcards the number was the series number of the card.
Grounds for censorship were new machines of war, geostrategic information, pacifist messages on the benefits of peace or encouraging an imminent cessation of fighting. Pacifism was the priority.
See also
Themes of World War One:
Mail and Censorship
on the Metro postcard site, and more generally
1,5 millions de cartes postales par jour en 1914. Qui étaient les éditeurs - an article and refs on French Patriotic postcards 1914--1918.