Date of use : 1939 Indonesia

Nederlands Indie Photo Dealer Cover – Natural Color Co.

This document is a commercial inquiry dated 30 September 1939, sent from the Dutch East Indies to a photographic company or supplier in the United States. The address section identifies the recipient as Natural Color Photo, C-107, Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.A. This indicates that the recipient was most likely a commercial enterprise involved in the sale of photographic materials or color photography products. During the 1930s the United States had become one of the leading centers of photographic technology and film production. American companies, particularly those involved in the development of color photography, established extensive international distribution networks to reach customers around the world.

The sender of the letter is identified as Lauw Han Seng, whose address is listed as Sibolga, Sumatra, D.E.I. (Dutch East Indies). Sibolga is a port city on the western coast of Sumatra and served as an important regional trading center during the period of Dutch colonial administration. In this context, the sender was likely either a local merchant, an amateur photographer, or an individual with an interest in photographic equipment. The letter indicates that the sender had seen an advertisement placed by the American company in the magazine True Romance and decided to contact the firm directly for further information. Popular magazines of this type were frequently used by American manufacturers as advertising platforms in order to reach both domestic and international audiences.

The content of the letter focuses on the availability of color film for cameras. The sender specifically asks whether the company sells color film and requests information regarding film sizes, prices, and the number of exposures contained in a single roll. This request reflects the growing international interest in color photography during the late 1930s. Although early color film systems such as Kodachrome had already been introduced, their global distribution remained relatively limited. As a result, photographers in distant regions often contacted manufacturers directly through international correspondence to obtain information or purchase materials.

From a philatelic perspective the postcard bears three postage stamps issued by Nederlandsch-Indië (the Dutch East Indies). The denominations visible on the stamps are 2½ cents, 4 cents, and 3½ cents. These stamps belong to a common colonial series depicting scenes of tropical agriculture, a design theme frequently used to symbolize the plantation-based economy of the colony. The postal cancellation indicates that the card was processed through the regional postal system in Sumatra before being dispatched internationally. The use of multiple stamp denominations reflects the calculation of the correct international postage rate for overseas correspondence.

From a collecting perspective this document is relevant to several thematic areas. It is particularly significant for collections focusing on the global dissemination of photographic technology, early color film history, international photographic trade, and postal history of the Dutch East Indies. It also illustrates the relationship between colonial communication networks and emerging consumer technologies. Furthermore, the reference to magazine advertising highlights the role of popular media in promoting photographic products during the interwar period.

In conclusion, this document represents more than a simple request for commercial information. It provides evidence of the global networks through which photographic technology circulated during the early twentieth century. The correspondence between a user in Sumatra and a company in the United States demonstrates the wide geographic reach of photographic commerce and communication. Such documents serve as valuable primary sources for understanding how photographic technology, trade, and cultural exchange were interconnected within the broader framework of global economic networks.

The text of the letter written by Lauw Han Seng is as follows:

Lauw Han Seng
Sibolga
Sumatra, Dutch East Indies
September 30, 1939

Gentlemen,

In response to your advertisement in True Romance, I would like to know whether you also sell color films for cameras. If so, please inform me of their sizes, prices, and how many exposures are contained in one roll.

Thank you in advance.

Yours truly,
Lauw Han Seng

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