Prussia Prince Alexander Ferdinand 1915 NPG Portrait Postcard

This original circa-1915 photographic postcard portrays Prince Alexander Ferdinand of Prussia as a young child. The formal sepia portrait shows the prince standing beside a table in a light-colored garment with a large sash bow. A miniature windmill and figures appear on the tabletop.

The printed German caption reads “Prinz Alexander Ferdinand, Sohn des Prinzen August Wilhelm,” translated as “Prince Alexander Ferdinand, son of Prince August Wilhelm.” The lower margin bears the Sandau Berlin W. studio credit, issue number 5000, and the circular trademark of the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft (New Photographic Society), a prominent German producer of photographic postcards.

Born in 1912, Alexander Ferdinand was the only son of Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia and Princess Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. He was a grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta Victoria. Portrait postcards such as this presented members of the House of Hohenzollern to the German public during the final years of the monarchy.

The postcard was mailed during the Imperial period and retains two 3-Pfennig Deutsches Reich postage stamps with period cancellations. It is addressed to “Fräulein F. Maass, z. Zeit Cassel, Akazienweg 11,” meaning “Miss F. Maass, currently in Cassel, Akazienweg 11.” Cassel is the historic spelling of Kassel. The handwritten message reads, “Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Namenstage sendet Dir Toni,” translated as “Heartfelt congratulations on your name day, sent to you by Toni.” It continues with “Viele Grüße,” or “many greetings,” followed by additional signatures that are not fully legible. The complete postal date is partly obscured by the cancellations.

The card remains in very good condition for its age. The portrait retains strong contrast and clarity, with light corner rounding, minor edge wear, and scattered small surface marks. The reverse shows expected age toning and postal handling, while the handwriting, stamps, and cancellations remain well preserved.

An appealing Imperial German royal postcard combining a named Hohenzollern subject, documented Berlin photographic production, and genuine period postal use.