Date of use : 1909, Switzerland

Optische Anstalt C.P. GOERZ Berlin Company Letterhead

This postcard represents an interesting document illustrating the relationship between international postal communication and the global trade in photographic equipment during the early twentieth century. The heading "Carte Postale – Union Postale Universelle" printed at the top of the card indicates that it was produced as a standardized postcard intended for international postal circulation. Swiss postal stationery of this type became widely used across Europe from the late nineteenth century onward and was designed to comply with the regulations of the international postal system.

The illustrated side of the card features a commemorative composition referring to the 1909 inauguration of the monument dedicated to the foundation of the Universal Postal Union. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in Bern in 1874 and played a fundamental role in the standardization of international postal services. The monument inaugurated in Bern in 1909 symbolized the ideals of cooperation and global communication represented by the international postal network. The figurative composition printed on the card includes symbolic elements representing communication and the interconnected nature of the world's postal system.

The address side of the postcard is directed to Optische Anstalt C. P. Goerz, Berlin-Friedenau. The company was founded in 1886 by Carl Paul Goerz. The firm C. P. Goerz was an important optical and photographic equipment manufacturer founded in Berlin during the late nineteenth century. The firm gained recognition for producing high-quality lenses and photographic cameras. Optical systems developed by Goerz were widely used by both amateur and professional photographers, and the company became one of the leading representatives of the European optical industry during the early development of photographic technology.

📜✍️ REVERSE SIDE - HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE (TRANSCRIPTION & TRANSLATION) German → English

📝 Original German text (handwritten):

"Wir danken Ihnen bestens für Ihr wertes Schreiben vom 6.4.
Demzufolge wir uns heute schriftlich an den hoch Herrn gewandt haben.
In der Hoffnung, das Gesagte wird Ihnen zustande zu bringen,
zeichnen wir hochachtend."

📖 English translation:

"Thank you very much for your letter dated April 6.

Following this, we have today contacted the relevant gentleman in writing.

We hope the matter will be successfully resolved,

and we send our kind regards."

📮 Context: This handwritten message is a brief business correspondence, expressing gratitude for a letter received on April 6 and informing the recipient that a written communication has been sent to a relevant gentleman. The sender hopes for a successful resolution of the matter.

Record Information

Title: Optische Anstalt C.P. GOERZ Berlin Company Letterhead

Category: Photographic Industry History / Optical Manufacturing

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / European Optical Industry

Country: Switzerland (Sender: Bern) → Germany (Recipient: Berlin) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Bern → Berlin-Friedenau

Date of use: 1909

Company (Recipient): Optische Anstalt C. P. Goerz, Berlin-Friedenau. A leading German optical and photographic equipment manufacturer founded in 1886 by Carl Paul Goerz, known for producing high-quality lenses and cameras.

Object Type: International postal card (Swiss UPU commemorative stationery)

Postal Route 🚂📮 (Estimated Route): Bern, Switzerland → Berlin-Friedenau, Germany (c.1909)

Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 2-3 days (railway via Basel, Frankfurt)

Postal Features: Swiss postal stationery; "Carte Postale – Union Postale Universelle" inscription; 1909 UPU monument commemorative illustration; international postal rate.

Language: French, German

Material: Postal card paper with commemorative illustration

Dimensions: Standard postal card format

Collection Theme: C.P. Goerz, Optische Anstalt, Berlin-Friedenau, German optical industry, UPU monument Bern 1909, Universal Postal Union, Swiss postal stationery, photographic lenses, European optical manufacturing, 1909 commemorative postal history.

Archival Significance: This 1909 UPU commemorative postcard addressed to the renowned German optical firm C.P. Goerz documents the intersection of international postal history and the European photographic optics industry at the turn of the twentieth century.

🚂📮 Postal Route: Bern → Berlin (c.1909) (Estimated Route)

🏛️ Bern (UPU Monument) 🇨🇭 → 🚂 Railway → 🇩🇪 Basel → 🇩🇪 Frankfurt → 🇩🇪 Berlin-Friedenau (C.P. Goerz) 🇩🇪

📮 UPU commemorative postcard → 🚂 Swiss/German railway network → 📬 Optische Anstalt C.P. Goerz, Berlin-Friedenau
Universal Postal Union founded 1874 | Monument inaugurated 4 October 1909 | Carl Paul Goerz founded 1886 | Optical lenses & cameras | Estimated travel time: 2-3 days

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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.