Postcards of Lost Royals

by Bodleian Library (Editor)

This enchanting, unique collection of postcards recovers an old world swept away and forgotten over the decades. The lost royals captured here have not been misplaced or gone missing—what has been lost is the very foundation of their royalty. Collected here are royal figures from around the world who lost their titles and were displaced as a result of World War I and other early twentieth-century political movements.

The royal houses of Europe, Africa, and Asia once ruled continents and held dominions beyond the seas. Today, just ten monarchs still reign in Europe, and those with only limited powers. Captured in these distinctive postcards held in the collection of the Bodleian Library are these lost emperors, kings and queens, czars and czarinas, princes and princess, and grand dukes and duchesses, who were left behind by the sweep of history. Featuring monarchs from the Balkans to the Iberian Peninsula, from Ethiopia to Korea, these portraits include members of the Russian imperial family, and royals from Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany, among others. But this is more than just a picture book; it provides a narrative snapshot of world history—alongside each postcard is an intriguing mini-biography of the pictured royal that provides a gripping account of his or her story.

Reminiscent of a forgotten era of glamour, grace, and regal power, Postcards of Lost Royals brings history to life and distills the essence of a long-vanished world of royalty.

Genres: History

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

The Bodleian Library, established in 1602, is the main research library of the University of Oxford and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. In Britain it is second in size only to the British Library.

Ask an Oxford Librarian
http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ask/

Reviews

[Ann Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting stories of historical royals.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd and enchanting little collection indeed - 40ish postcards of mostly European (and a handful of African and Asian) royals from the 19th and early 20th century, accompanied by very brief biographic notes (which will surely lead me to Wikapedia-ing and further investigation). This fellow, for example, with his first wife and three sons (who all ultimately joined the Nazi party and were subsequently disinherited by the Prince):

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting collection of postcards from the late nineteenth, early 20th century of various monarchs and their family members from Europe, and a few Asian royalties as well. Each postcard is shown with its back and front, along with a small bit of biographical information. There really could have been more data, but as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth in advertising -- the title sums it up. But it doesn't quite convey the quirky charm of this collection. Not only do you see a postcard displaying a portrait of the Princess of Schaumburg-Lippe, you can read the intriguing message scrawled on it "Isn't this a lovely card, which proves my patriotic and military feeling? Only I fear I am too tall..." From such scraps are born great sagas ....

[Frederic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little collection of postcards, reproduced at about full size (with the backs smaller, but still legible). One from the nice series of books of historical postcards put out by the Bodleian Library.

[Heidi Belinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Postcards of Lost Royals is essentially a small coffee table book (6 1/4″ x 4 3/4″). Each page contains a photo of a postcard of a “lost royal” and the opposite page a thumbnail of the back of the postcard and a short description of him/her. Royals from around the globe are included in the book – from Great Britain to Germany to Russia to Egypt, India, Korea, China, Mexico, and more.