Date of use : 1941 Czechoslovakia

Vlastimil Saska – Czechoslovak Distributor of Gevaert Products

This postal envelope represents an example of commercial correspondence related to the trade of photographic materials in Central Europe during the first half of the twentieth century. The sender identified on the envelope is a photographic supply dealer operating in Prague under the representation of Vlastimil Saska. The printed text on the envelope indicates that Saska acted as a representative of the Belgian photographic manufacturer Gevaert. This information suggests that the business functioned not merely as a local retailer but as part of an international distribution network associated with a major photographic materials producer. The address Praha X, Vítkova 14 places the enterprise within one of Prague's commercial districts.

The Gevaert company had been an important producer within the European photographic industry since the late nineteenth century. The firm specialized in the production of photographic film, glass plates, and darkroom chemicals, supplying both professional photographers and photographic studios across Europe. Within this context, Saska's operation in Prague may be understood as a regional distribution point for Gevaert products within the Central European market.

The envelope is addressed to Václav Linhart, whose address line includes the phrase "obchod fotopotřebami," a Czech expression meaning a shop dealing in photographic supplies. This description indicates that the recipient operated a business selling photographic equipment and materials in the town of Turnov. Turnov, located in northern Bohemia, historically developed as a regional center for crafts and commercial activity. The correspondence therefore appears to document a commercial relationship between a distributor in Prague and a photographic supply retailer operating in a smaller provincial town.

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.