Date of use : 1913, Switzerland

Kodak S.A. Lausanne Stationery for L'Amateur du Kodak

This document represents a commercial envelope produced by the Swiss branch of the Kodak company. The printed letterhead reads "Kodak, Société Anonyme, Lausanne," indicating that the firm operated from Avenue du Tribunal in the city of Lausanne. The graphic layout demonstrates that the envelope served not only as a postal carrier but also as an advertising medium promoting photographic equipment.

On the left side of the envelope appears an illustration of a small camera accompanied by the title "Le Vest Pocket Kodak." The accompanying text emphasizes that the camera produces "incomparable results." It further highlights that the device is small enough to be carried in a waistcoat pocket. The Vest Pocket Kodak weighed approximately 255 grams and was designed as a compact photographic instrument, making it one of the most portable cameras available during the early twentieth century.

The Vest Pocket Kodak camera was first introduced in 1912 by the Eastman Kodak Company. The model featured a folding body design and used 127 roll film, allowing photographers to produce relatively small negatives while maintaining good image quality. These features made the camera particularly appealing to amateur photographers. During the First World War the model became widely used by soldiers, which led to its occasional nickname as the "soldier's camera." Despite its compact size, the camera was capable of producing images of notable clarity, contributing to its widespread popularity.

The envelope also includes a label bearing the title "L'Amateur du Kodak." This phrase likely refers to a publication or promotional periodical aimed at amateur photographers. Kodak actively supported the expansion of photography by producing not only cameras and film but also magazines and instructional publications explaining photographic techniques. Such publications played an important role in encouraging the growth of amateur photography.

Postal markings on the envelope indicate that it was processed in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland. The cancellation date suggests that the item entered the postal system during the early decades of the twentieth century. The address written on the envelope refers to Salonika, a city that at the time formed part of the Ottoman Empire. This detail demonstrates that Kodak's commercial and cultural networks extended across a wide geographic area linking Western Europe with the eastern Mediterranean.

The Kodak company itself was founded in 1888 in the United States by George Eastman. Eastman's development of roll film technology and portable cameras transformed photography from a specialized professional practice into an activity accessible to a broad public. Within a relatively short time the company established branches across Europe and built an international distribution system. Kodak Société Anonyme in Switzerland formed part of this global network.

During the early twentieth century compact cameras played a significant role in the popularization of photography. Devices such as the Vest Pocket Kodak allowed ordinary users to document everyday life with relative ease. This development contributed to the transformation of photography from a technical craft practiced by specialists into a widely adopted form of visual communication.

From a collecting perspective this envelope falls into several categories. It represents photographic industry ephemera connected with Kodak's commercial activities. It also functions as an advertising artifact illustrating the marketing strategies of early photographic manufacturers. Furthermore, it holds value for postal history because it documents international correspondence linking Western Europe with the Ottoman region.

In a broader historical sense the envelope represents more than a simple postal item. It reflects the marketing practices of the early photographic industry and the efforts of Kodak to promote amateur photography worldwide. The company's portable cameras and educational publications played a decisive role in spreading photographic culture throughout the twentieth century.

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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