Date of use : 1948, Germany

Ewald Behrend – Photographic Materials Dealer

This envelope represents an important example of commercial postal communication reflecting the reconstruction of trade and postal networks in Germany after the Second World War. The sender identified on the envelope is Ewald Behrend Foto–Kino Fachhandlung, a photographic and cinema equipment retailer operating in Berlin. The printed heading on the envelope indicates that the business was not limited to retail sales but also engaged in manufacturing and wholesale distribution. The expressions "Detail – Fabrikation – Engros" suggest that the company served both individual customers and broader commercial distribution networks. The business address is given as Zossener Strasse 40 in the Berlin SW 29 district, an area historically associated with commercial activity in the city.

The recipient named on the envelope is Max Hackner, described as a "Lichtbildner," a German term historically used to denote a photographer or photographic professional. This designation indicates that the recipient was likely operating a photographic studio or working professionally within the photographic field. The address places the recipient in the town of Dachau in Bavaria, located near Munich. As a regional center with commercial connections to southern Germany, Dachau provided a suitable environment for professional photographic activity. The correspondence therefore reflects a commercial relationship between a photographic equipment supplier in Berlin and a professional photographer operating in Bavaria, illustrating the re-establishment of photographic supply networks in postwar Germany.

One of the most striking features of the envelope is the large number of postage stamps attached to its surface. The stamps bear the inscription "Deutsche Post" and belong to early issues used during the period when the German postal system was reorganized after the war. The use of stamps of various denominations indicates that the required postal fee was assembled through the combined use of multiple small-value stamps. Such practices were relatively common in the immediate postwar period due to currency reforms, shortages of certain stamp denominations, and the evolving structure of postal tariffs.

The reverse side of the envelope displays an entire sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed directly to the surface. This feature is particularly notable from a philatelic perspective. Such usage generally occurred when large or heavy commercial mail required higher postage rates, necessitating the application of numerous low-value stamps. The attachment of entire stamp sheets to envelopes served as a practical method for completing the required postage. Examples of this type represent interesting aspects of postal practice in the early postwar German postal system.

Record Information

Title: Ewald Behrend Business Envelope (Berlin to Dachau)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Post-War German Trade / Photographic Supply Networks

Country: Germany (Sender: Berlin) → Germany (Recipient: Dachau)

City: Berlin (Sender: Ewald Behrend) → Dachau, Bavaria (Recipient: Max Hackner)

Date of use: 1948

Company (Sender): Ewald Behrend Foto–Kino Fachhandlung, Zossener Strasse 40, Berlin SW 29, Germany. A photographic and cinema equipment retailer engaged in retail (Detail), manufacturing (Fabrikation), and wholesale (Engros) operations.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (heavy commercial mail with multiple stamps)

Postal Features: German "Deutsche Post" postage stamps (multiple denominations); Berlin postal cancellation (1948); entire sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed to reverse.

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Ewald Behrend, Berlin photographic trade, post-war German commerce, Max Hackner, Dachau photography, Lichtbildner, Deutsche Post stamps, multiple stamp usage, stamp sheet affixing, 1948 German postal history, photographic supply reconstruction.

Archival Significance: This 1948 envelope documents post-war commercial correspondence between a Berlin photographic equipment dealer (Ewald Behrend) and a Bavarian photographer (Max Hackner), featuring extensive multiple-stamp usage and a full sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed to the reverse, illustrating postal practices during the early reconstruction period in Germany.

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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