Prussia Prince Alexander Ferdinand With Dog NPG Postcard, Circa 1918

This original Imperial German photographic postcard presents Prince Alexander Ferdinand of Prussia as a young child posed beside a large dog. Photographed in a Berlin studio setting, the prince wears a belted tunic with matching short trousers, stockings, and shoes. The oval portrait format and restrained sepia coloring give the card the formal appearance associated with late Imperial royal portraiture, while the dog lends the composition a more personal character.

The printed caption reads “Prinz Alexander Ferdinand, Sohn des Prinzen August Wilhelm,” translated as “Prince Alexander Ferdinand, son of Prince August Wilhelm.” The portrait is credited “Sandau, Berlin W.,” identifying the Berlin studio of royal and society photographer Ernst Sandau. The lower margin also bears the monogram of the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft (New Photographic Society) and issue number 5225.

Born on 26 December 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 and a member of the House of Hohenzollern. Judging by the prince’s apparent age, this portrait dates to approximately 1918, during the final year of the German Empire. Royal portrait postcards of this type circulated images of the Imperial family throughout Germany and helped present dynastic continuity to the public during the closing years of the monarchy.

The reverse has the standard divided postcard format and remains unused, with no address, correspondence, postage, or cancellation. A small period pencil notation is present. The printed stamp box contains the triangular publisher’s device.

The postcard remains in good condition for its age. The portrait retains pleasing clarity, contrast, and tonal detail. There is scattered light foxing and surface soiling, mild corner and edge wear, a softened upper-left corner, and a diagonal crease or handling line at the lower-right portion of the card. These signs of age do not materially detract from the central portrait or its printed identification.

This is an appealing Imperial German royal postcard combining a named Hohenzollern subject, a documented Berlin photographer, the Neue Photographische Gesellschaft publisher’s mark, and an engaging portrait of the young prince with his dog.