A Postcard Home to Mother

[Mike Dwyer]

Normally I only purchase portrait style postcards of imperial German royalty, nobility and generals. I tend to shun cards that show public scenes because they're not so "close up and personal." I just recently purchased a card though that violates my usual rule.

The card is of a street scene in Weilburg, Germany showing Grand Duke Friedrich II of Baden (1857-1928) with his wife, Hilda Princess of Luxemburg (1864-1952), and his mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Adelheid of Luxembourg, n?e Pss of Anhalt (1833-1916), with her four oldest granddaughters, the Princesses Marie Adelheid, Charlotte, Hilda and Antonia of Luxembourg, arriving at Weilburg/Lahn where they attended the unveiling of a statue of Grand Duke Adolph of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau (1817-1905, (Grand Duke Friedrich?s father-in-law) on August 21, 1907. The details are very small and hard to see. Grand Duke Friedrich, in military uniform, is sitting in the carriage with his back to the camera.

I didn't purchase this card for the photograph on the front, but more for the message on the back.

Four days after the events shown in the photograph Grand Duke Friedrich sent this postcard to his mother (Grand Duchess Luise of Baden).

The card says: "K?nigstein, 25.VIII.07. Herzensdank f?r lieben Brief gestern und heutiges Telegramm. Hier ein Bild der Begr??ung an der Lahnbr?cke in Weilburg. Schwiegermama, Hilda und ich begr??ten gestern Eitel Fritzens in Homburg, wo es sehr nett war. Gr??en herzlichst, F."

A rough translation is: K?nigstein, 25.VIII.07. Heartfelt thanks for the lovely letter yesterday and today's telegram. Here is a picture of our welcome at the Lahn bridge in Weilburg. Mother-in-law, Hilda and I welcomed Eitel Fritzens yesterday in Homburg, where it was very nice. Cordial greetings, F." (Eitel Fritzens is Prinz Eitel Friedrich of Prussia, one of Kaiser Wilhelm II's sons.)

Edited September 26, 2006 by Mike Dwyer

[Mike Dwyer]

....and the best part...................

[Guest Rick Research]

...

I've never seen a Royal-to-Royal postcard before!!!

Congratulations-- did the seller even have a clue, or did this fall into the shrg and the "I can't read that old handwriting..." category?

[Mike Dwyer]

...

I've never seen a Royal-to-Royal postcard before!!!

Congratulations-- did the seller even have a clue, or did this fall into the shrg and the "I can't read that old handwriting..." category?

Rick,

The seller (one who I've bought from many times before) had the complete description and the message in German on the eBay sale page. That's what attracted my attention and caused me to violate my usual purchase plan and buy this one!

I know it's proper, but it looks funny to me to see the card addressed to Mrs. Grand Duchess of Baden!

Edited September 27, 2006 by Mike Dwyer