Date of use : 1955, Germany
Fotohaus Steins German Photo Dealer Stationery
This document represents a commercial correspondence conducted in 1955 between Fotohaus Steins, a firm operating in Cologne, Germany, and a customer based in the United States. The company functioned as a multi-disciplinary technical supplier active in the fields of photography, cinema, and imaging technologies. The presence of the recipient, Robert Fous, in the United States reflects the strengthening of transatlantic commercial relations between Europe and America in the post-war period.
The "Mit Luftpost / Par Avion" label on the envelope indicates that the item was sent via airmail, a method that became increasingly important in the 1950s for accelerating intercontinental business communication. The stamps in the upper right corner, issued by the Deutsche Bundespost, belong to the postal system of post-war West Germany and reflect the standard portrait-based stamp designs of the period. The postmark includes the name "Köln" along with a readable date, and also bears the inscription "Flughafen Köln/Bonn," indicating that the item was processed through an airport postal facility and integrated into the international airmail network.
✉️ Correspondence (translated from German):
"Regarding your inquiry,
Dear Mr. Fous,
We thank you for your recent letter and wish to inform you that your work was dispatched to your address in Cicero on February 10, 1955, and is therefore expected to reach you within the next few days.
We thank you once again for your order and would be pleased to remain in contact with you in the future.
Yours sincerely."
From a philatelic perspective, this envelope is notable for its use of airmail, its international routing, and its Deutsche Bundespost stamps. It also falls within the category of commercial printed envelopes and constitutes a valuable document related to the photographic and optical industries. The presence of the airmail label, clear postmark, and complete address enhances its significance for both postal history and the study of commercial networks.
Record Information
Title: Fotohaus Steins German Photo Dealer Stationery
Category: Photographic Industry History / Post-War Commerce
Subcategory: International Airmail Correspondence / Transatlantic Trade
Country: West Germany (Sender: Cologne) → USA (Recipient: Cicero, Illinois)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Cologne (Sender: Fotohaus Steins) → Cicero, Illinois (Recipient: Robert Fous)
Date of use: 1955 (dispatch: 10 February 1955)
Company (Sender): Fotohaus Steins, Cologne, Germany. A multi-disciplinary technical supplier active in photography, cinema, and imaging technologies, operating in post-war West Germany.
Recipient: Robert Fous, Cicero, Illinois, USA.
Object Type: International airmail envelope (commercial correspondence)
Postal Route ✈️: Cologne, West Germany → Cicero, Illinois, USA (10 February 1955) (Estimated Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 3-5 days (airmail via North Atlantic routes)
Postal Features: Deutsche Bundespost stamps (portrait issues); Cologne postal cancellation with "Flughafen Köln/Bonn" inscription; "Mit Luftpost / Par Avion" label; international airmail route; 10 February 1955 dispatch date.
Language: German, English (address)
Material: Paper envelope with printed business inscription
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: Fotohaus Steins, Cologne photography trade, Deutsche Bundespost airmail, transatlantic commercial correspondence, 1950s West Germany, photographic equipment distribution, Cologne/Bonn airport postal facility, post-war German-American trade.
Archival Significance: This 1955 airmail envelope documents the commercial correspondence between a West German photographic supplier and a customer in the United States, illustrating the revitalization of transatlantic trade and the role of airmail in accelerating post-war international business communication.
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.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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