Date of use : 1962 Aden

Aden Photo Trade Mail to Obergassner KG, Germany

This envelope represents a typical example of the commercial and professional communication established between the Middle East and Western Europe during the mid-twentieth century. The item was sent from Aden, a major port city located in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, to Munich, one of the key economic and commercial centers of West Germany. The postal cancellation on the envelope clearly indicates that it was mailed on 3 April 1962.

The sender identification, "Express Photo Service, Steamer Point, Aden," refers to a photographic service operating in the Steamer Point district, the area of Aden where port activities were concentrated. Businesses of this type were common in port cities during the 1950s and 1960s, providing rapid photographic services to ship crews, travelers, and local clients. Photo printing, film processing, and the dispatch of photographic materials were among their primary activities.

The "By Air Mail / Par Avion" label on the envelope shows that the item was sent by airmail. This method was frequently chosen for time-sensitive materials such as photographic prints, film, or commercial documents. Aden's strategic position within international maritime and air transport networks made regular postal exchanges with Europe both practical and efficient.

The recipient address, "Messrs. Obergaessner K.G., Franz Joseph Strasse 43, Munich 13, West Germany," identifies a Munich-based commercial firm. The abbreviation "K.G." denotes a legally recognized form of business partnership under German commercial law, indicating that the company operated as a joint enterprise. In addition to its role as a photographic trading firm, Obergaessner K.G. also acted as a distributor for several well-known camera brands, including Franka, Photavit, and King. This distribution activity places the firm within the broader network of photographic equipment supply and sales in postwar West Germany.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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