Date of use : 12 June 1963, West Germany

German Camera Dealer Obergassner K.G. Stationery

This commercial envelope represents an interesting postal artifact documenting business communication networks in West Germany during the early 1960s. The postmark on the envelope reads München 33 and carries the date 12 June 1963. The red postal imprint visible on the envelope belongs to the postal system of Deutsche Bundespost, the federal postal administration of West Germany at that time. Such machine imprints were commonly used by businesses and institutions that processed large volumes of correspondence through automated postage systems.

The sender identified on the envelope is J. Schweitzer Sortiment, a firm associated with the name Gustav Habecker. The address indicates the company's location at Ottostrasse 1a in Munich. The printed description of the business states that it operated as a specialist bookseller dealing with legal, economic, fiscal, and commercial literature. In addition to selling professional publications, the company also engaged in antiquarian book trade and book rental services. The slogan printed on the envelope, "Seit 1868 kauft man alle juristischen Bücher bei Schweitzer," emphasizes the firm's long-standing tradition dating back to 1868. Such statements were frequently used by established publishing houses and bookstores to highlight reliability and expertise.

The recipient of the letter is Obergassner KG, a company whose field of activity is indicated on the envelope as "Photo, Kino, Optik." This description suggests that the firm was involved in the trade of photographic equipment, cinematographic technology, and optical instruments. The address given for the company is Franz-Joseph-Strasse 43 in Munich. Companies of this type played an important role in the distribution of photographic and optical equipment in West Germany during the decades following the Second World War. Munich itself developed into a significant center for technical trade and photographic equipment during this period.

Although the sender and recipient belonged to different sectors, their correspondence likely reflects the broader commercial interactions typical of the period. Technical trading companies often required access to legal publications dealing with commercial law, taxation, and international trade regulations. Consequently, communication between a specialized legal bookseller and a technical equipment distributor would have been a natural part of everyday business operations.

From a philatelic perspective, the envelope is notable for its machine-applied postage imprint. During the mid-twentieth century many European postal administrations allowed large institutions and businesses to pay postage through mechanical franking systems rather than adhesive stamps. These systems facilitated faster processing of large volumes of mail and were particularly common among publishing houses, commercial enterprises, and government institutions. The value "010" printed within the postal frame indicates the postage paid for the item.

The typographic design of the envelope also reflects contemporary commercial practices. The sender printed both its advertising slogan and institutional identity directly onto the envelope, effectively transforming each mailed item into a small promotional medium. Such printed envelopes were widely used by publishing houses and booksellers as a means of reinforcing brand recognition.

From a collecting perspective, the envelope may be classified within several thematic areas. These include West German postal history, machine-franked mail, commercial correspondence, and documents connected to the photographic and optical industries. It also illustrates communication between companies operating in different sectors, providing insight into the broader commercial networks of the time.

In conclusion, this envelope represents a small but meaningful historical document illustrating business communication in West Germany during the early 1960s. The correspondence between a legal publishing bookseller and a photographic and optical equipment distributor demonstrates the interconnected nature of commercial networks during the period. Such artifacts contribute not only to postal history but also to the study of modern economic and professional communication networks.

Record Information

Title: German Camera Dealer Obergassner K.G. Stationery

Category: Photographic Industry History / Domestic Trade

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Business Networks

Country: West Germany

City: Munich

Date of use: 12 June 1963

Company (Sender): J. Schweitzer Sortiment (Gustav Habecker), Ottostrasse 1a, Munich. A specialist bookseller founded in 1868, dealing in legal, economic, fiscal, and commercial literature, as well as antiquarian books and book rentals. Slogan: "Seit 1868 kauft man alle juristischen Bücher bei Schweitzer."

Company (Recipient): Obergassner KG, Franz-Joseph-Strasse 43, Munich. A firm engaged in the trade of photographic, cinematographic, and optical equipment ("Photo, Kino, Optik"), serving as a distributor in West Germany's technical market.

Object Type: Domestic commercial envelope with machine franking

Postal Features: Deutsche Bundespost machine franking imprint (value 010); Munich 33 postal cancellation (12.6.63).

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: J. Schweitzer Sortiment, Munich publishing, Obergassner KG, photographic trade, optical equipment, West German commerce, machine franking, Deutsche Bundespost, 1960s business correspondence, cross-sector trade.

Archival Significance: This 1963 envelope documents a commercial link between a Munich legal bookseller and a photographic equipment distributor, illustrating the diverse business interactions supporting West Germany's postwar economy.

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.
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