Date of use : 1920, France
Victor Sommer Photographic Materials Dealer
This postcard represents a commercial correspondence sent from a business operating in the city of Colmar in the Alsace region of France. The printed letterhead on the front identifies the sender as Victor Sommer, whose business is described as "Droguerie, couleurs et vernis – Articles photographiques." This designation indicates that the enterprise dealt in chemical goods, paints, and varnishes, while also supplying photographic materials. Businesses of this type played an important role in the photographic supply networks of the early twentieth century.
Although detailed archival information about Victor Sommer remains limited, the description printed on the card clearly indicates that the business operated as a droguerie, a type of shop traditionally selling chemical and technical products. In late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe such establishments frequently sold not only household chemicals but also photographic materials and darkroom supplies. Since early photographic processes relied heavily on chemical compounds such as silver salts, developers, and fixing agents, these stores served as important suppliers for photographers.
The recipient of the postcard is Mme. Emilie Müller, whose address is listed in the town of Barr, also located in the Alsace region. The handwritten message on the card constitutes a commercial price notification. The text indicates that a company had recently provided the sender with goods and that the sender was transmitting price information for a quantity measured in kilograms. The mention of a price per kilogram and an additional percentage increase suggests that the correspondence relates to a commercial quotation, possibly concerning photographic chemicals or other technical materials.
The card is dated 19 November 1920, according to the handwritten notation at the top of the message. This date corresponds to a significant period in the history of the Alsace region. From 1871 until 1918 Alsace had been incorporated into the German Empire, but following the First World War it was returned to France. The year 1920 therefore represents an early phase of reintegration into the French administrative and economic system. A commercial postcard sent from Colmar to Barr thus illustrates the continuation and reconstruction of regional commercial networks during the immediate post-war period.
The postage stamps affixed to the card belong to the well-known Semeuse series issued by the French Republic, with a denomination of ten centimes. This design was one of the most widely used definitive stamp types in France during the early twentieth century. The cancellation mark indicates processing through the Colmar postal system. The use of a postcard format for this correspondence reflects a common practice in business communication during the period, as postcards provided a fast and economical method for transmitting short commercial messages.
From a collecting perspective, this document can be associated with several thematic categories. It represents an example of commercial correspondence related to the trade of photographic materials and chemicals. It also reflects the economic and commercial history of the Alsace region during the early twentieth century. Additionally, the item is relevant for collections focusing on French postal history and the use of postcards for business communication.
📜✍️
REVERSE SIDE - HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE (TRANSCRIPTION & TRANSLATION)
French → English
📝 Original French text (handwritten):
"Colmar, le 19 novembre 1920
Madame,
La maison S. & Cie vient de me livrer une certaine quantité de marchandises. Vous trouverez ci-dessous le prix au kilogramme :
Frs. 12.50 le kg, plus 5% pour frais d'emballage.
Si vous désirez passer commande, veuillez me le faire savoir.
Recevez, Madame, mes salutations distinguées.
Victor Sommer"
Madame,
La maison S. & Cie vient de me livrer une certaine quantité de marchandises. Vous trouverez ci-dessous le prix au kilogramme :
Frs. 12.50 le kg, plus 5% pour frais d'emballage.
Si vous désirez passer commande, veuillez me le faire savoir.
Recevez, Madame, mes salutations distinguées.
Victor Sommer"
📖 English translation:
"Colmar, 19 November 1920
Madam,
The firm S. & Co. has just delivered to me a certain quantity of goods. Below you will find the price per kilogram:
12.50 Francs per kg, plus 5% for packaging costs.
If you wish to place an order, please let me know.
Please accept, Madam, my distinguished greetings.
Victor Sommer"
🧪 Context: This commercial postcard documents a price notification for goods (likely photographic chemicals) sold by the kilogram. The 5% packaging fee and the reference to a supplier "S. & Co." illustrate early 20th-century wholesale trade practices in Alsace following its return to France after WWI.
Record Information
Title: Victor Sommer Business Postcard (Colmar to Barr)
Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence
Subcategory: Alsatian Chemical & Photographic Trade / Post-War Commerce
Country: France (Sender: Colmar → Recipient: Barr)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Colmar, Alsace (Sender: Victor Sommer) → Barr, Alsace (Recipient: Mme. Emilie Müller)
Date of use: 19 November 1920
Company (Sender): Victor Sommer, Droguerie, couleurs et vernis – Articles photographiques, Colmar, Alsace, France. A chemical and photographic supply dealer active in the early 20th century, operating during the post-WWI reintegration of Alsace into France.
Object Type: Commercial postcard (business correspondence)
Postal Route 🚂📮 (Estimated Route): Colmar, Alsace → Barr, Alsace (19 November 1920)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 1 day (local railway)
Postal Features: French Semeuse 10-centime postage stamp; Colmar postal cancellation (19 November 1920).
Language: French
Material: Paper (postcard stock)
Dimensions: Standard postcard format
Collection Theme: Victor Sommer, Colmar commerce, Alsatian photographic trade, droguerie, photographic chemicals, post-WWI Alsace, regional commerce, Semeuse stamps, 1920s French postal history, Barr Alsace.
Archival Significance: This 1920 postcard documents commercial correspondence between an Alsatian chemical and photographic dealer (Victor Sommer in Colmar) and a regional client, illustrating the reconstruction of regional trade networks in Alsace following its return to France after World War I.
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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