Date of use : 1913, USA
Letter to Jules Richard via Cunard Line
This envelope represents an important postal artifact illustrating the functioning of transatlantic mail transportation and international commercial communication in the early twentieth century. The inscription "S.S. Campania" printed in the upper left corner indicates that the correspondence was most likely associated with the ocean liner SS Campania. This vessel, launched in 1893 and operated by the Cunard Line, was one of the prominent passenger liners engaged in transatlantic service between Europe and North America. The postal marking reading "U.S. Postal Agency – Steamship" suggests that the item was processed through a maritime postal service operating aboard or in connection with a transatlantic vessel. The cancellation date appears to read 28 January 1913.
The recipient identified on the envelope is Jules Richard, with an address given as 25 Rue Mélingue in Paris. Jules Richard was a prominent French industrialist active in the production of photographic and optical equipment during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He is particularly known for manufacturing stereoscopic cameras and stereoscopic viewing systems. His company, Maison Jules Richard, became an important manufacturer of optical instruments and photographic apparatus. The envelope therefore likely formed part of an international exchange connected to the photographic equipment industry.
During the early twentieth century the photographic industry expanded rapidly and developed extensive international commercial networks. European countries such as France, Germany, and Britain played central roles in the design and manufacture of optical instruments and photographic equipment, while the United States became an increasingly significant market and production center. As a result, transatlantic correspondence between manufacturers, distributors, and technical specialists was common. Entrepreneurs such as Jules Richard maintained regular communication with commercial partners abroad. The envelope therefore probably represents a routine element of this international professional exchange.
From a philatelic perspective the envelope bears a United States postage stamp with a face value of five cents. This value corresponds to common international postal rates of the period. The stamp features the portrait of George Washington, a design that remained a recurring motif in American postal issues. The cancellation reading "U.S. Postal Agency – Steamship" is particularly significant. Such markings were used by maritime postal services and indicate that the letter was processed in connection with mail carried by an ocean liner.
Record Information
Title: Transatlantic Maritime Mail Envelope (USA to Paris)
Category: Photographic Industry History / International Commercial Correspondence
Subcategory: International Correspondence / Maritime Mail
Country: USA (Origin) → France (Destination)
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City: US Origin → Paris, France
Date of use: 28 January 1913
Person (Recipient): Jules Richard, 25 Rue Mélingue, Paris, France. A French industrialist and manufacturer of stereoscopic cameras, viewing systems, and optical instruments. Founder of Maison Jules Richard, a prominent photographic equipment company.
Vessel: SS Campania (Cunard Line) – launched 1893, transatlantic passenger liner, maritime postal service carrier.
Object Type: International commercial envelope with printed letterhead (maritime mail / steamship correspondence)
Postal Route 🚢: USA → SS Campania (Cunard Line) → Paris, France (28 January 1913) (Estimated Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 5-7 days (by transatlantic steamship)
Postal Features: US 5-cent George Washington postage stamp; "U.S. Postal Agency – Steamship" cancellation (28 January 1913); S.S. Campania maritime connection.
Language: English / French (recipient address)
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format
Collection Theme: Jules Richard, SS Campania, Cunard Line, transatlantic mail, maritime postal service, US Postal Agency, stereoscopic cameras, French optical industry, USA-France trade, 1910s postal history, steamship correspondence.
Archival Significance: This 1913 maritime mail envelope documents transatlantic correspondence sent via the Cunard Line's SS Campania to French optical manufacturer Jules Richard, illustrating the postal infrastructure that supported international commercial communication in the photographic industry during the early twentieth century.
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.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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