Date of use : 1937 USA

USA – Colombia Photo Supply Co. to Burleigh Brooks

This envelope represents a piece of commercial correspondence reflecting the photographic trade networks that developed in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. The printed letterhead identifies the sender as Columbia Photo Supply Co., Inc., with an address at 1424 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. The heading also states that the company had been operating since 1900, emphasizing the firm's long-standing presence in the photographic supply business.

The Columbia Photo Supply Company was among the businesses that distributed photographic materials, camera equipment, and darkroom supplies in the United States during the early twentieth century. Companies of this type played an important role in supplying both professional photographers and amateur enthusiasts at a time when photographic technology was expanding rapidly. Located in major cities such as Washington, these suppliers functioned as regional distribution centers supporting the growth of photographic markets.

The envelope is addressed to Burleigh Brooks in New York City, with a business address on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The name Burleigh Brooks is associated with photographic equipment distribution networks active in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. It is therefore likely that this correspondence relates to commercial matters concerning photographic equipment or distribution activities within the industry.

The postage stamp affixed to the envelope is a three-cent issue from a United States definitive series depicting the portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Stamps of this type were widely used in the American postal system during the 1930s. The cancellation mark indicates Washington, D.C., and the date appears to read August 1937, confirming that the item entered the postal system in the American capital.

At the top of the envelope appears the printed phrase "Return in three days." Such markings were commonly used in commercial correspondence as a reminder that enclosed documents were expected to be returned promptly. This practice was often associated with business contracts, quotations, or order forms circulating between companies.

From a collecting perspective, this envelope can be classified within several thematic categories. It represents a commercial document related to the photographic supply trade and therefore holds relevance for collections focusing on the history of photography and photographic commerce. It also constitutes an example of domestic commercial mail in the United States during the 1930s. Furthermore, as a postal item sent from Washington to New York, it illustrates how commercial networks within the United States relied on the postal system for routine business communication.

In conclusion, this envelope should be viewed not merely as a postal artifact but as a small historical document reflecting the functioning of photographic trade networks in the United States during the early twentieth century. The communication between a photographic supply company in Washington and a commercial contact in New York highlights the role played by distribution networks in the expansion of photographic technology. For this reason, the document carries significance both for postal history and for the economic history of the photographic industry.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
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