Date of use : c.1938, Germany

Postcard to Alfred Fries, Photographer from Perg

This document represents a commercial correspondence card issued by the firm Glass & Tuscher, a graphic arts enterprise operating in the German city of Leipzig. The printed heading on the left identifies the company as a "Graphische Kunstanstalt," a term commonly used in German-speaking regions to describe establishments engaged in printing, lithography, and other graphic arts services. Businesses of this kind produced printed materials for publishers, photographers, and advertising agencies.

The address printed on the card indicates that the firm was located at Breite Straße 7 in Leipzig. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Leipzig developed into one of Europe's most important centers of publishing and graphic arts production. The city's printing houses and graphic workshops maintained extensive commercial networks that extended well beyond Germany. As a result, Leipzig-based firms frequently supplied printed materials to clients across Central Europe.

The inscription "Frühjahrsmesse Leipzig" visible on the card refers to the Leipzig Spring Fair. The Leipzig fairs were among the most significant commercial exhibitions in Europe and played a central role in international trade. Companies involved in printing technology, photographic equipment, optical instruments, and graphic arts regularly presented their products during these events. The presence of the fair reference on the card suggests that the correspondence may have been connected to commercial activities taking place during the fair period.

The recipient of the card is identified as Alfred Fries (1902-1981), a professional photographer operating in the Austrian town of Perg. The designation "Fotograf" indicates that he ran a photographic studio. During the first half of the twentieth century photographic studios not only produced portraits but also relied heavily on printed materials such as photographic mounts, advertising cards, and presentation prints. For this reason photographers frequently collaborated with graphic arts workshops capable of producing high-quality printed products.

Firms such as Glass & Tuscher supplied photographers with a variety of specialized printing services. These services could include portrait mounts, studio advertising cards, album pages, and printed stationery used for professional correspondence. The collaboration between graphic printing houses and photographic studios formed an essential part of the broader visual culture of the period.

The postage stamp and cancellation on the card indicate that the item was processed through the Leipzig postal system. The cancellation includes the wording "Messestadt Leipzig," meaning "Leipzig, the city of fairs." This designation reflected the city's long-standing reputation as an international trade fair center. Postal markings of this type were frequently used to emphasize the commercial importance of Leipzig within the European economic landscape.

Another noteworthy element of the card is the presence of several banking and postal account references printed beneath the company address. The firm maintained accounts not only in Leipzig but also in Prague and Vienna. This detail suggests that the company conducted business with clients across Central Europe and utilized multiple financial channels to facilitate international trade.

From a collecting perspective the card can be associated with several thematic categories. It represents an example of commercial ephemera documenting the relationship between photographic studios and graphic printing enterprises. It is also relevant to the study of Leipzig's trade fairs and their role in shaping European commercial networks. Furthermore, the document illustrates the close connection between photography and the graphic arts industry in the early twentieth century.

Record Information

Title: Postcard to Alfred Fries, Photographer from Perg

Category: Photographic Industry History / Graphic Arts

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Printing Services

Country: Germany (Sender) → Austria (Recipient)

City: Leipzig (Sender) → Perg (Recipient)

Date of use: c.1938

Company (Sender): Glass & Tuscher, Graphische Kunstanstalt, Breite Straße 7, Leipzig, Germany. A graphic arts firm specializing in printing, lithography, and related services for publishers, photographers, and advertising agencies.

Recipient: Alfred Fries (1902-1981), Fotograf, Perg, Austria. A professional photographer operating a studio in Perg, Austria.

Object Type: International commercial postcard with printed letterhead

Postal Features: German postage stamp; Leipzig postal cancellation with "Messestadt Leipzig" (city of fairs) designation.

Language: German

Material: Paper postcard

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Notable Feature: Reference to "Frühjahrsmesse Leipzig" (Leipzig Spring Fair); banking and postal accounts in Leipzig, Prague, and Vienna indicating cross-border trade; cancellation "Messestadt Leipzig."

Collection Theme: Glass & Tuscher, Leipzig graphic arts, Leipzig Spring Fair, Messestadt Leipzig, Alfred Fries, Perg photography, Austrian photographic studios, printing services, portrait mounts, Central European commerce.

Archival Significance: This 1938 postcard documents the commercial relationship between a Leipzig graphic arts firm and an Austrian photographer, illustrating the role of printing services in supporting photographic studios and the cross-border trade networks of Central Europe.

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.