Date of use :  1936 Germany

Photo Schmidt Nürnberg Business Postcard – Photography Studio

This document is a commercial postcard associated with a photographic business operating in the German city of Nuremberg. The printed heading on the front identifies the sender as "Photo-Schmidt, Nürnberg, Mohrengasse 5." Nuremberg was an important commercial and industrial center in Germany, particularly from the late nineteenth century onward. The city developed a regional economy that included precision manufacturing, optics, and related technical trades. Such an environment provided favorable conditions for photographic studios, optical retailers, and businesses involved in photographic equipment and image production.

The handwritten date on the reverse side indicates that the postcard was written on 21 August 1936. This period corresponds to the era of Nazi Germany; however, the document itself contains no explicit political content and appears to be strictly related to commercial photographic services. A red stamp at the bottom of the message reads "Photo-Schmidt, Nürnberg-A, Mohrengasse 5," and beneath it appears a handwritten signature that may read Dr. Rannich or a similar name, although the exact reading cannot be confirmed.

The postcard is addressed to Herr Ana. Feriud (the precise reading of the name is uncertain) in Epfeld near Würzburg. This location corresponds to a small locality in the Bavarian region of Germany, suggesting that the communication took place between the photographic studio and a regional customer.

The content of the message indicates that the sender is responding to a previous request concerning photographic images. The text lists several photographic subjects that appear to have been produced or offered by the studio. These subjects include a general view of Epfeld, St. Nicholas Chapel, and panoramic views of the surrounding area. Such themes were commonly used in the production of photographic postcards during the early twentieth century. Local photographers frequently documented towns, landmarks, and landscapes, which were then reproduced as postcards for local distribution and for visitors.

It is therefore likely that the business activities of Photo-Schmidt included both photographic services and postcard production. During this period photographic studios often expanded their activities beyond portrait photography to include landscape photography and the creation of printed postcards. These images served as both souvenirs and visual documentation of local communities. The list of photographic subjects in the message suggests that the postcard may represent a response to an inquiry or an order confirmation related to such images.

From a philatelic perspective the postcard bears a Deutsches Reich postage stamp with a denomination of 6 Pfennig. This value corresponds to the standard domestic postcard postage rate used in Germany during the 1930s. The postal cancellation confirms that the item was processed through the Nuremberg postal system.

The typographic design of the postcard also reflects the aesthetic conventions of the period. The name "Photo-Schmidt" appears in a Gothic typeface resembling the Fraktur style, which was widely used in Germany in printed materials during the first half of the twentieth century. This typographic style was common in commercial stationery and printed advertising of the time.

From a collecting perspective the postcard may be associated with several thematic areas. It is relevant to collections focused on photographic studio correspondence, photographic postcard production, German photographic history, and local tourism imagery. It also holds value for collectors interested in Nuremberg postal history, postcards from the Deutsches Reich period, and regional photographic commerce.

In conclusion, this postcard represents an informative document illustrating the commercial activities of photographic studios in the early twentieth century. The documentation of local landscapes, the production of postcards, and the exchange of correspondence with customers demonstrate how photography functioned not only as an artistic practice but also as a commercial enterprise. Businesses such as Photo-Schmidt played a role in shaping local visual culture by producing and distributing photographic representations of towns and landscapes. Documents of this type therefore serve as valuable historical sources for understanding the relationship between photography, commerce, and postal communication.

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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