Description:

IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVAL PERSONNEL REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS (21)
Fine lot of 21 World War I-era real photo postcards, each approx. 5.5 x 3.5 in. b/w, all depicting sailors and other personnel of the ‘Kaiserliche Marine', or Imperial German Navy. The lot features nine group photos and seven individual full-length portraits, all showing their subjects in naval uniform. The units to which the subjects belonged are identifiable in many cases by the tally ribbons on their caps and, in cases taken aboard their ships, by life rings emblazoned with the vessel's name. Notable examples include crew of the battlecruiser SMS MOLTKE (two examples, one shipboard and one of a naval landing party with rifles); dreadnought battleship SMS NASSAU; pre-dreadnought battleship SMS ELSASS; pre-dreadnought battleship SMS BRAUNSCHWEIG (with musical instruments); armored cruiser SMS FURST BISMARCK; protected cruiser SMS VICTORIA LOUISE; and one example in a hospital showing a mix of wounded men from the ships SCHLESIEN, SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, COLN, VULKAN, and BRAUNSCHWEIG, as well as several members of a ‘Halbeflotille'. The men shown in the individual portraits wear cap tallies identifying them as belonging to sea- and land-based naval aviation units, coastal artillery, and reserve regiments. Ten examples are inscribed and postmarked on the verso, with two (one inscribed and one blank) showing mounting remnants. In very good condition overall.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000