Description:

INWARDS MAIL: 1915 mourning cover with embossed '[crown]/MAISON DE SM LA REINE/ELISABETH' on the flap, from Rumania with 50b orange tied to the reverse & 'Buc Gara Nord' registration label, London transit b/s in red, poor Sydney cds on the face, Newcastle transit & 'HAMILTON' arrival b/s, readdressed with 'ARNCLIFFE' arrival b/s, opened three sides & a bit soiled. Surprisingly uncensored, perhaps as a courtesy to royal mail.

Princess Elisabeth von Wied (1843-1916) was married to King Carol I of Rumania. They were both of German nobility. A closet Republican, she was well known by her literary pseudonym Carmen Sylva, writing profusely in German, French, English & Rumanian!