Date of use : 1971, Hong Kong

Albert White & Co. Ltd. Stationery, Hong Kong

This envelope represents a commercial correspondence sent from Hong Kong to the United States in 1971. The printed letterhead in the upper left corner identifies the sender as Albert White & Co., Ltd., a company operating in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong. The firm describes its business as "photo supplies," indicating that it dealt with products related to photography such as cameras, films, darkroom chemicals, and associated equipment.

Companies of this type played an important role in the photographic marketplace during the decades following the Second World War. By the 1950s and 1960s Hong Kong had developed into one of the major commercial hubs of East Asia. The territory functioned as a distribution center connecting Western manufacturers, Japanese camera producers, and international buyers. Photographic equipment suppliers located in Hong Kong often acted as intermediaries who supplied equipment to retailers, professional photographers, and private customers across different continents.

The address on the envelope identifies the recipient as Mr. Lee Teschler in Richmond, Michigan, United States. The profession of the recipient cannot be determined directly from the document. However, considering that the sender specialized in photographic supplies, it is plausible that the addressee was involved in photography either as a professional photographer, a retailer, or possibly a private enthusiast who obtained equipment from overseas distributors. During the late 1960s and early 1970s amateur photography had expanded significantly, and international mail orders for photographic equipment had become increasingly common.

Postal cancellations on the envelope indicate that the item was processed in Kowloon on 15 January 1971. The bold "Air Mail" marking clearly shows that the letter was intended for transportation by air. By the late twentieth century international airmail had become the dominant method for long-distance commercial correspondence. Air transport greatly accelerated communication between Asia and North America, making it possible for business transactions and orders to be exchanged within relatively short periods of time.

The postage stamp attached to the envelope belongs to the colonial postal system of Hong Kong and displays a portrait associated with the British monarchy. Such stamps are characteristic of the period when Hong Kong remained under British administration, a status that continued until 1997. The combination of English and Chinese characters on the stamp reflects the multilingual environment of the territory.

From a philatelic perspective the envelope may be categorized in several ways. It represents an example of international airmail correspondence and also belongs to the category of commercial envelopes associated with the photographic trade. Its origin in Hong Kong further connects it to the broader history of Asian commercial networks during the twentieth century.

The historical significance of the document extends beyond postal history alone. Commercial envelopes such as this one provide valuable insight into the global distribution networks of photographic equipment. While cameras and photographic materials were often manufactured in Europe, the United States, or Japan, their worldwide distribution relied heavily on intermediary companies operating in international trading centers. Hong Kong functioned as one of the most important nodes in this network.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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