Foki Foto und Film Photographic Dealer

Date of use : 1951 Germany

FOKI Foto und Film: Landshut Photographic Dealer to Max Tietze, Eggenfelden

This postcard represents a piece of commercial correspondence sent by a photographic supply retailer operating in the Bavarian city of Landshut. The printed heading on the front identifies the business as "FOKI Foto und Film." The card also includes the phrase "Größtes niederbayerisches Fotohaus," which translates as "the largest photographic store in Lower Bavaria." According to the address printed on the card, the company was located at Altstadt 31 in Landshut.

The printed business information and the company stamp suggest that the firm functioned as a regional distributor or retail dealer specializing in photographic equipment and film products. Such photographic supply stores played an important role in the revival of the photographic market in Germany after the Second World War. During the war years production and distribution networks had been severely disrupted, and the postwar period saw a gradual rebuilding of supply chains together with a renewed demand for photographic equipment.

The recipient of the postcard is identified as Max Tietze, whose address is listed as Oettinger Straße 24 in the town of Eggenfelden. Eggenfelden is a smaller Bavarian town that historically served as a regional center for surrounding rural communities. It is therefore possible that the recipient was either an amateur photographer or the owner of a small photographic studio operating within the local area.

The message printed on the reverse side addresses a request for a photographic enlarger. In the text the sender explains that a Rex enlarging apparatus is not currently available in stock. The writer further notes that delivery times for this device have become considerably longer and that waiting periods of up to two or three months must sometimes be expected. This statement provides valuable insight into supply conditions in the photographic equipment market during the early postwar period.

Photographic enlargers were essential tools in the process of producing photographic prints. These devices allowed negatives to be projected onto photographic paper within the darkroom environment. As a result, the absence of such equipment could directly affect the ability of photographers to produce finished prints.

From a philatelic perspective the postcard bears a ten-pfennig postage stamp issued in postwar West Germany. An additional Berlin tax stamp is also visible on the card. The postal cancellation indicates a mailing date of June 26, 1951, placing the correspondence firmly within the period of economic reconstruction in Germany.

From a collecting standpoint this document represents a valuable example of correspondence related to the photographic trade. It can be studied both within the field of postal history and within the context of photographic technology and commerce. The mention of unavailable equipment and extended delivery times provides concrete evidence of the economic and logistical challenges affecting the photographic market in the early 1950s.

Viewed in a broader historical context, the postcard illustrates how the photographic industry was shaped not only by technological innovation but also by economic conditions and supply networks. Communication between photographers and equipment dealers was largely conducted through postal correspondence. For this reason such documents should be regarded not merely as postal artifacts but also as historical records reflecting the functioning of the photographic market during a period of reconstruction and transition.

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.