Date of use : 1960, India
India Business Letter to Obergassner K.G, Germany
This document is a commercial airmail envelope sent from Bombay (today Mumbai) in India to the city of Munich in Germany. The addressee indicated on the front of the envelope is Obergassner K.G., a company whose field of activity is described as "Photo–Kino–Optik," referring to photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment. The sender is listed as Dave Brothers, with an address at Waterloo Mansion, opposite Regal Cinema, Bombay. This location corresponds to a commercial district in the Colaba–Fort area, a part of the city historically associated with cultural venues, cinemas, and international trade.
Archival information about Dave Brothers is limited; however, the address and commercial context suggest that the company was likely involved in the distribution or trade of photographic equipment, cinema accessories, or optical goods. Bombay developed into one of the major centers of film production and cinema culture in South Asia during the twentieth century. Businesses operating in this environment frequently participated in international trade networks that connected local markets with European manufacturers and distributors.
The recipient company, Obergassner K.G., appears to have been a Munich-based enterprise dealing in photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment. The designation "Photo–Kino–Optik" indicates a broad range of activities that likely included cameras, projection equipment, lenses, and various photographic accessories. Munich became an important center for the trade of photographic and optical products in West Germany after the Second World War. Germany had already established a strong international reputation in optical engineering and camera manufacturing since the late nineteenth century.
During the mid-twentieth century the photographic and cinema industries expanded rapidly across the world. The growth of film production, the widespread presence of cinemas, and the increasing popularity of amateur photography all contributed to a rising demand for photographic equipment. International trade networks developed between European producers and distribution centers in Asia and other regions. Cities such as Bombay served as important commercial hubs where photographic and cinematic technologies circulated within regional and global markets.
The envelope itself is a typical airmail cover with red and blue border markings, a format widely used for international postal communication during the twentieth century. The inscription "By Air Mail / Par Avion" indicates that the letter was transported by air. The development of international airmail services after the Second World War significantly reduced delivery times between continents, making it an essential tool for companies engaged in international trade.
On the reverse side of the envelope, postage stamps issued by the Indian postal administration are visible. One of the stamps depicts an industrial or technical scene, reflecting themes commonly used in mid-twentieth-century postage designs to illustrate national development and technological progress. The postal cancellation confirms that the item entered the international postal network through the Bombay postal system.
From a collecting perspective, this envelope belongs to several thematic categories. It can be associated with collections focusing on airmail history, commercial postal correspondence, photographic industry history, and international trade documentation. As a physical trace of communication between India and Germany within the photographic and optical trade, the document illustrates how technological industries were interconnected through global commercial networks.
Record Information
Title: India Business Letter to Obergassner K.G, Germany
Category: Photographic Industry History / International Trade
Subcategory: Airmail Correspondence / South Asian Commerce
Country: India (Sender: Bombay) → West Germany (Recipient: Munich)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Bombay (Mumbai) (Sender: Dave Brothers) → Munich (Recipient: Obergassner K.G.)
Date of use: 1960
Company (Sender): Dave Brothers, Waterloo Mansion, opposite Regal Cinema, Bombay, India. A commercial firm likely involved in the distribution or trade of photographic equipment, cinema accessories, or optical goods, operating in Bombay's commercial district.
Company (Recipient): Obergassner K.G., Munich, West Germany. A German enterprise dealing in photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment ("Photo–Kino–Optik").
Object Type: International commercial airmail envelope with printed letterhead
Postal Route ✈️: Bombay, India → Munich, Germany (1960)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 3-5 days (airmail via Middle Eastern and European routes)
Postal Features: Indian postage stamps with industrial/technical designs; Bombay postal cancellation; red and blue airmail border; "By Air Mail / Par Avion" inscription.
Language: English
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Notable Feature: Commercial correspondence between a Bombay-based firm and a German photographic equipment company; airmail communication; reference to "Photo–Kino–Optik" indicating the recipient's business sector.
Collection Theme: Dave Brothers, Bombay, Indian photographic trade, Obergassner K.G., Munich, German photographic industry, international airmail, 1960s commerce, South Asian-European trade, cinema equipment distribution.
Archival Significance: This 1960 airmail envelope documents the international trade of photographic and cinematic equipment between India and West Germany, illustrating the global commercial networks that connected South Asian markets with European suppliers.
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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