Date of use : 1931 Austria

Letter to Franz Weidinger Photographic Studio

This postcard represents a small but meaningful example of professional communication within Austria. The address section identifies the recipient as Photo-Atelier Franz Weidinger, Linz an der Donau, Promenade 37 (bei Mader). This clearly indicates that the card was directed to a photographic studio operating in the city of Linz. As one of the principal administrative and commercial centers of Upper Austria, Linz supported a considerable number of photographic studios from the late nineteenth century onward. Such studios provided portrait photography, identification photographs, and various printing services, contributing significantly to the visual culture of the region.

The small printed image on the card shows a panoramic view labeled "Baden bei Wien – Lower Austria." Baden near Vienna is historically known as a spa town and was frequently depicted on picture postcards during the early decades of the twentieth century. Scenic postcards of this type circulated widely across Central Europe and served both as tourist imagery and as practical communication tools. The Austrian stamp and cancellation mark on the upper right confirm that the item was processed through the Austrian postal system as an official postcard. The printed credit line at the bottom indicates that the card itself was produced by a postcard publisher based in Vienna.

The handwritten message on the reverse side carries the date 4 December 1931, and the heading indicates Vienna as the place of writing. Although the cursive script is not entirely legible, the general content appears to concern photographic work or the handling of photographs that had been ordered or produced. References in the text suggest that the correspondence relates to photographic prints or enlargements and possibly discusses their preparation or delivery. Such exchanges were common in the everyday business practices of photographic studios.

During the early 1930s photographic studios in Austria served not only as spaces for artistic portraiture but also as providers of practical services. Identification photographs required for documents, employment cards, and administrative records were routinely produced in these studios. Clients also contacted studios by mail to request additional prints, enlargements, or photographs in specific sizes.

From the perspective of postal history, the card represents a typical example of intercity communication within Austria. The Austrian postal system during this period was efficient and widely used for everyday correspondence. The postcard's typographic layout, decorative border patterns, and divided message format reflect the standard design conventions of Central European postcards of the time.

For collectors this document belongs to the category of photographic commercial ephemera, illustrating communication between photographic studios and their clientele. It also holds philatelic interest as an example of Austrian postcard design and postal cancellation practices. The printed address of the photographic studio provides useful archival information about the distribution and operation of local photographic businesses.

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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