Date of use : 1923, Germany

Agfa Photo Artikel Letter to Mentor Camera Werk

This envelope represents an interesting example of commercial correspondence associated with the photographic materials trade in Germany. The illustrated letterhead on the left side indicates that the sender was involved in the distribution of photographic products. The inscription "Agfa Photo Artikel" suggests that the business dealt in photographic equipment and supplies. According to the printed information, the local representation and warehouse were operated by Heinrich Riedl at Karlsplatz 14 in the city of Munich.

The name Agfa refers to a major German manufacturer of photographic materials. Agfa originated in the late nineteenth century as a producer of chemical products and gradually expanded into the manufacture of photographic film, printing paper, and darkroom materials. Beyond its industrial production, the company developed an extensive distribution network consisting of regional agents and commercial representatives. These intermediaries supplied photographic studios and amateur photographers with equipment and materials. Heinrich Riedl in Munich was likely one such representative responsible for distributing Agfa products within the local market.

The envelope is addressed to a photographic enterprise located in Dresden. The address refers to "Mentor Camera Fabrik Goltz & Breutmann," which corresponds to the Mentor Camera Factory, a manufacturer known for producing large-format and professional studio cameras. The company was established in Dresden in the late nineteenth century and contributed to the development of photographic equipment through a range of technical innovations. Dresden was widely recognized as one of Germany's principal centers for optical and photographic manufacturing during this period.

The postal markings on the envelope clearly indicate that it was mailed from Munich. The cancellation date corresponds to the year 1923. This date is historically significant because it coincides with the severe inflation crisis experienced by Germany during the Weimar Republic. The stamp affixed to the envelope bears the inscription "750 Tausend," reflecting the extremely high postal denominations required during the hyperinflation period. Such stamps illustrate the rapidly changing postal rates characteristic of this economic crisis.

From a philatelic standpoint, the envelope exemplifies the postal history of Germany during the hyperinflation era. The presence of a high-denomination stamp and a clearly legible Munich cancellation provides valuable evidence linking the cover to this particular historical moment. Covers from this period are often studied not only for postal history but also as documents reflecting broader economic developments.

In terms of collecting categories, the envelope occupies an intersection between several thematic fields. It may be included in collections relating to the photographic industry, the distribution networks of Agfa products, camera manufacturing in Dresden, and the postal history of the German hyperinflation period. Correspondence between suppliers of photographic materials and camera manufacturers provides insight into the commercial infrastructure that supported the growth of photographic technology.

Record Information

Title: Heinrich Riedl Business Envelope (Munich to Dresden)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: German Photographic Distribution / Weimar Hyperinflation Period

Country: Germany (Sender: Munich) → Germany (Recipient: Dresden)

City: Munich (Sender: Heinrich Riedl) → Dresden (Recipient: Mentor Camera Fabrik)

Date of use: 1923

Company (Sender): Heinrich Riedl, Agfa Photo Artikel, Karlsplatz 14, Munich, Germany. A regional representative and distributor of Agfa photographic materials (film, printing paper, darkroom supplies) in the Munich area.

Company (Recipient): Mentor Camera Fabrik Goltz & Breutmann, Dresden, Germany. A camera manufacturer specializing in large-format and professional studio cameras, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (business correspondence)

Postal Features: German "Deutsches Reich" postage stamp with "750 Tausend" denomination (hyperinflation period issue); Munich postal cancellation (1923).

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Heinrich Riedl, Agfa distribution network, Munich photographic trade, Mentor Camera Fabrik, Dresden camera manufacturing, Weimar Republic hyperinflation, 750 Tausend stamps, 1923 German postal history, photographic industry supply chains.

Archival Significance: This 1923 envelope documents commercial correspondence between a Munich-based Agfa photographic distributor (Heinrich Riedl) and the Dresden camera manufacturer Mentor Camera Fabrik, featuring a high-denomination "750 Tausend" hyperinflation stamp that illustrates the extreme postal rates of the Weimar Republic economic crisis.

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.
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