Date of use : 3 April 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. Obergassner 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, Obergassner 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.
Record Information
Title: Aden Photo Trade Mail to Obergassner KG, Germany
Category: Photographic Industry History / International Trade
Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Distribution Networks
Country: Aden (British Colony) → West Germany
🗺️ Show Route
City: Steamer Point, Aden → Munich (Franz Joseph Strasse 43)
Date of use: 3 April 1962
Company (Sender): Express Photo Service, Steamer Point, Aden. A photographic service business operating in the port district, offering photo printing, film processing, and dispatch services to ship crews, travelers, and local clients.
Company (Recipient): Obergassner K.G., Munich, West Germany. A commercial partnership ("K.G.") engaged in photographic trade and distribution. Distributor for Franka, Photavit, and King camera brands.
Object Type: International airmail envelope ("By Air Mail / Par Avion")
Postal Route ✈️: Aden → Munich, West Germany (3 April 1962) (Estimated Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 1-2 weeks (airmail via Middle East and Europe)
Postal Features: "By Air Mail / Par Avion" label; Aden postmark (3 April 1962); addressed to Munich, West Germany.
Language: English, German
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: Express Photo Service, Aden photography, Obergassner K.G., Franka cameras, Photavit, King, Middle East-European trade, 1960s commercial networks, port city commerce, airmail correspondence.
Archival Significance: This 1962 airmail envelope documents the commercial link between a photographic service in the port of Aden and a Munich-based distributor. It illustrates the global reach of photographic trade, connecting the Middle East with European supply networks. Obergassner's role as a distributor for Franka, Photavit, and King adds industrial context. This item is a primary source for understanding the international exchange of photographic services and equipment in the 1960s.
Research Note:
This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.
This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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