Date of use : 1949 Germany

Lehmann & Balzer Optics Business Postcard to Agfa Photo

This document is a commercial promotional card issued by the company Lehmann & Balzer, a firm active in the field of optical glass processing and precision optical production in Germany. The card was sent from the town of Lommatzsch near Dresden in Saxony and addressed to Agfa-Photo GmbH in Hamburg. It represents an interesting example of the commercial relationships that existed within the optical and photographic industries in post-war Germany.

The sender's information on the card reads "Lehmann & Balzer – Glasbearbeitungswerk, Optische Anstalt," indicating that the company specialized in optical glass processing and the manufacture of optical components. The firm operated in Lommatzsch, a town located within the wider Dresden region. Historically, the Dresden area developed into one of the most significant centers of optical manufacturing in Germany. From the late nineteenth century onward, the region became widely recognized for the production of precision optics, scientific instruments, and photographic technologies. Companies such as Lehmann & Balzer can therefore be understood as part of this broader industrial ecosystem.

The recipient of the card, Agfa-Photo GmbH, was one of the most prominent companies in the global photographic industry during the twentieth century. The company was particularly known for the production of photographic film, photographic paper, and imaging technologies. Its commercial offices in Hamburg functioned as important nodes within the company's distribution and commercial network. Within this context, the card may represent a form of communication between a supplier of optical components and a major manufacturer of photographic equipment.

The reverse side of the card contains a promotional message addressed to the company's valued customers. In the text, the firm informs potential clients that it is once again able to supply various optical products within the limits imposed by the current availability of materials. This reference likely reflects the economic conditions of the post-war period, when industrial production was gradually being reorganized and certain raw materials remained scarce. The company lists a range of products including surface mirrors, microscope mirrors, optical glass plates, focusing screens, and various optical components used in photographic and scientific instruments.

The postage stamp on the card depicts the German writer Gerhart Hauptmann. This stamp belongs to a cultural commemorative series used in post-war Germany. The postal cancellation indicates that the card was processed in Lommatzsch before entering the postal system. Commercial postcards of this type were widely used by companies to introduce products, maintain customer relationships, and promote their manufacturing capabilities.

From a collecting perspective, the card fits within several thematic categories. It can be considered part of commercial correspondence related to the optical and photographic industries. It also represents an interesting example for collections focusing on the industrial history of optical manufacturing in Germany. Furthermore, the document illustrates the forms of business communication used during the reconstruction period following the Second World War.

In conclusion, this card represents a small yet meaningful historical document illustrating the supply relationships between optical component manufacturers and photographic technology companies in Germany. The commercial link between a manufacturing workshop in Lommatzsch and a major industrial firm such as Agfa highlights the complex network of industrial cooperation that characterized the mid-twentieth-century optical industry. Such documents serve as valuable archival materials not only for postal history but also for understanding the development of optical manufacturing and the production networks behind photographic technology.

The text of the promotional message is as follows:

To our valued customers,

We would like to inform you that, within the limits of the current material situation, we are once again able to supply the following items whenever required.

Surface mirrors, including custom-made production, for projection and photographic equipment as well as for laboratory testing devices.

All mirrors silvered on the reverse side, such as microscope mirrors, sextant mirrors, etc.

Heat-resistant concave mirrors (including the re-silvering of used concave mirrors sent to us).

Silver coating of glass submitted for optical purposes, including transparent optical components and negative holders.

Plane glass plates and parallel optical plates of all thicknesses.

Focusing ground glass screens with very fine matting.

Various medical mirrors (without mountings), such as mouth, throat, eye, ear, and forehead mirrors.

Reading magnifiers and other circular optical components.

Spherical cinema concave mirrors.

We would be pleased to have the opportunity to supply you again with one or more of these items and respectfully recommend our services to you.

LEHMANN & BALZER
Glass Processing Works – Optical Establishment

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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