Postcard, portrait of girl and woman, Germany, 1916
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1916
Postcard in German, written on Christmas Day, 1916, during World War I. The front features a photographic portrait of a girl and woman, with wishes printed in German and four-leaf clover inscribed with the flags of Germany's allies - Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Germany - with the fourth leaf showing the German State Crown. It is hand-written on reverse in German (Suetterlin). The sender, Res.
R. Wittler, was hospitalised at the military hospital no. 14. He writes wishing the 'gentlemen of the [?].W.W., especially Messrs. Lindner + Berkefeld, a very happy New Year'. He is 'hopeful that the year 1917 will bring us the long-awaited peace'. It is not known how this particular item came to be in Australia. Coloured postcard with black and white portrait of a girl and woman. The background of the postcard is green. The oval portrait of the woman and child is framed with a bow in the colours of the German imperial flag. The wishes are bordered with four-leaf clovers in green and yellow. Underneath the inscription is a big four-leaf clover.
Three leafs depict a flag of Germany's allies - Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Germany - the fourth leaf shows the German State Crown. The postcard shows some wear.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 2
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This coloured postcard with black and white portrait of a girl and woman is an invaluable record for greeting cards during the First World War. It is part of a postcard series. Through its iconography it depicts themes like everyday life during war, allied forces and family life.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Overall Dimensions: 140 mm (Width), 91 mm (Height)
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- Front: Glück- und Segenswünsche zum Jahreswechsel. Translation: Felicitatin and blessings to the turn of the year. Back: In print: Absender; Postkarte / S. V. D. Serie 6028, 2 Handwritten text in Suetterlin: [???]. Res. R. Wittler den 25.XII.16 / Kriegsla_er elf [??] XIV [??]. Insp. d.l.t / 'Wünsche den Herren des [?].W.W. / insbesonderen Herrn Lindner + Berkefeld / ein recht frohes Neues Jahr. Hoffend, / daß das Jahr 1917 uns den langersehnten / Frieden bringt verbl. ich den besten / Grüßen Hr. R Wittler' Translation: '[???]. Res. R. Wittler / the 25.XII.16 (ie, July) / Army** camp eleven [??
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-1826506
- Museum object name
- Postcard - Portrait of Girl & Woman, from Res. R. Wittler, German, World War I, 25 Dec 1916
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- HT 31399
- Published references
- Information on World War I German postal service from German History in Documents and Images (GHDI) web site http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2153, accessed 9/2012. Translation undertaken by Museum Victoria volunteer Kate Davison in March 2014.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.