The size is standard 5 ½" x 3 ½", in cardboard-thick unbleached paper. Special issue for correspondence with prisoners of war. As stated in the vertically oriented side panel on the left of the obverse, written communication to, from, and between prisoners of war is permitted only in postcards, posted without cover.

In excellent condition, showing just minuscule corner bumps to the paper. All the printed and handwritten text is clear and perfectly legible. The stamped seals are rather vague but the date on the round cancellation stamp is clear, 24 January 1917.

The postcard is addressed to a Russian POW in Camp #155 in Austria. The message on the verso is dated 22 January, and is written by the POW's wife Anna in the old, pre-1917 reform orthography. The message is very simple and has many spelling errors. Anna sends her husband love from their daughter, regards from all their relatives, and writes that she has not received any letters from him, and only knows from his father who does receive his postcards that he is alive. She sends her love and says she is waiting to hear from him as soon as possible.

This postcard is a rare artifact from the Great War, bringing to focus a rarely encountered aspect of it. It will make an outstanding and unusual addition to a collection of WW1 memorabilia!