This elegant early twentieth-century Romanian postcard features a beautiful portrait of A.S.R. Printesa Maria, identified clearly along the lower margin of the image. “A.S.R.” stands for Alteța Sa Regală—Her Royal Highness. The reverse of the card is printed in red ink and the card is identified as part of a Romanian royal series issued by A. Brand of Sinaia, with distribution by C. Sfetea of Bucharest, both known for publishing royal portrait postcards in the early 1900s. Based on the divided back and typography, this card likely dates from approximately 1905 to 1915. Princess Maria of Romania (1900-1961) was the daughter of King Ferdinand I of Romania and Queen Marie of Romania. Her mother, Queen Marie, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, placing Princess Maria within the wider network of European royalty. In 1922, Princess Maria married King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and became Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. After her husband’s assassination in 1934, she became Queen Mother and remained an important royal figure until her death on June 22, 1961. This portrait therefore captures a young princess who would later ascend to queenship in another European monarchy. The portrait itself is refined and beautifully composed. Princess Maria is shown as a young woman wearing a soft, fur-trimmed hat adorned with a plume. Her long hair falls naturally over her shoulders, and she wears a delicate pendant necklace. The lighting is soft and flattering, typical of formal royal portraiture of the period, and her thoughtful sideways gaze lends the image a dignified and almost romantic quality. The sepia tones remain warm and appealing, enhancing the overall aesthetic of this early royal postcard. SOLD
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
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