Date of use : 1920, Germany

Alois Koestler Studio Cover, Munich, Germany

This document represents a commercial mailing envelope associated with the photographic studio Photographisches Atelier Alois Koestler, which operated in the city of Munich, Germany. The printed letterhead at the top of the envelope includes the name of the studio together with its telephone number and street address. The line "Telefon-Ruf 21307" indicates that the business maintained a telephone connection, illustrating the growing integration of modern communication technologies into commercial activity during the early twentieth century.

The sender identified on the envelope, Photographisches Atelier Alois Koestler, operated at Bürklein-Straße 10 in Munich. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, independent photographic studios became common features of European urban life. These studios typically offered portrait photography, family photographs, and official identification images. In a cultural center such as Munich, a photographic studio would likely have served both local residents and members of the city's artistic and professional communities.

The typography and layout of the printed letterhead reflect the commercial design conventions of the period. The name of the studio is displayed prominently in large type, while the address and telephone details appear in a smaller but clearly legible format. This design approach represents an early form of visual corporate identity used by businesses to establish a recognizable presence in written correspondence.

The postage stamp located in the upper right corner bears the inscription "Deutsches Reich" and displays a Bavarian heraldic motif. The stamp carries a denomination of forty pfennig. Such stamps formed part of the official postal issues used within the German Reich postal system. The cancellation mark applied to the stamp indicates processing within the Munich postal network.

The handwritten address suggests that the envelope was directed to an individual or business located in Munich. Part of the address appears to contain the word "Schaehalles München," although the handwriting is not entirely clear. Because some parts of the script are difficult to read, the exact identity of the recipient cannot be determined with certainty.

From the perspective of commercial history, envelopes of this type provide valuable insight into the everyday operations of photographic studios. Such businesses relied on written correspondence for handling portrait orders, communicating with suppliers, and maintaining contact with clients. Printed envelopes bearing the studio's letterhead served as an important instrument of professional communication.

In terms of postal history, the envelope illustrates the role of the German postal system as a central infrastructure supporting small commercial enterprises. The availability of reliable postal services enabled photography studios and other service-based businesses to maintain regular contact with customers and business partners.

From a collecting standpoint, this envelope may be categorized as photographic industry ephemera. Letterhead envelopes from photographic studios constitute primary documentary evidence of the commercial activities associated with photography. They also offer insight into the presence and distribution of local photographic businesses within European urban environments.

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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