Date of use : 1912 Ottoman Empire

C.P. Goerz Postcard Sent to Paris Office

This postcard represents a historical document reflecting the position of the Ottoman Empire within the international postal system and illustrating intellectual and commercial communication networks in the early twentieth century. The card is an example of Ottoman postal stationery bearing an imprinted postage value and was produced according to the standards of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The heading printed on the card reads "Union Postale Universelle – Turquie," indicating the participation of the Ottoman postal administration in the international postal union. Above this inscription appears the same designation written in Ottoman Turkish script. Such bilingual presentation was characteristic of Ottoman postal stationery intended for international correspondence.

The postal cancellation visible on the card indicates that it was mailed from Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1912. This period corresponds to the late Ottoman era, when international postal communication had become an essential component of administrative, commercial, and intellectual exchange. Additional transit markings suggest that the card entered the broader European postal network after leaving the Ottoman postal system.

The recipient address indicates a connection with C. P. Goerz, a company known for the manufacture of optical and photographic equipment. Founded in Germany in the late nineteenth century, the firm became internationally recognized for producing precision camera lenses and optical instruments. The address written on the card refers to Paris, France, which may indicate a commercial office, distribution contact, or representative associated with the company's European network.

The message written on the reverse side of the card is composed in French, a language widely used in diplomatic, academic, and commercial communication within the late Ottoman intellectual environment. The signature identifies the sender as Mehmed Behâeddin, who describes himself as a student at the Haydarpaşa Faculty of Medicine. The medical school at Haydarpaşa was one of the principal institutions of modern medical education in the Ottoman Empire and maintained strong intellectual connections with European scientific traditions. The use of French by students and scholars in this environment was common, reflecting the international orientation of scientific education during the period.

In the message the sender politely requests that the recipient send an illustrated catalogue identified by a specific number. Such catalogues were widely distributed by manufacturers of scientific instruments, photographic equipment, and optical devices. These printed catalogues served as important reference tools for students, researchers, and professionals seeking technical information about available instruments. The request therefore suggests an interaction between an Ottoman medical student and a European supplier of optical or photographic equipment.

From a postal history perspective, the card is a typical example of Ottoman international postal stationery designed for cross-border correspondence. The printed frame, the integrated postage stamp, and the bilingual inscriptions reflect the standardized format adopted by many countries following the establishment of the Universal Postal Union.

From a collecting standpoint, the item may be associated with several thematic areas, including Ottoman postal history, UPU postal stationery, and the circulation of scientific and optical equipment catalogues in the early twentieth century. It also provides insight into the intellectual connections between Ottoman educational institutions and European technological industries.

In conclusion, this postcard should be interpreted not merely as a personal communication but as evidence of the broader networks linking the Ottoman Empire with European centers of science and industry. The request sent by a medical student in Constantinople to a company associated with optical or photographic technology in Paris illustrates how knowledge, instruments, and printed technical information circulated internationally during the early twentieth century. Such documents constitute valuable archival sources at the intersection of postal history, scientific exchange, and the global trade of technological equipment.

Record Information

Title: C.P. Goerz Postcard Sent to Paris Office

Category: Ottoman Postal History / Photographic Trade Correspondence

Subcategory: UPU Postal Stationery / Scientific Equipment Trade

Country: Ottoman Empire (Origin) / France (Destination)

City: Constantinople (Istanbul) → Paris

Date: 1912

Sender: Mehmed Behâeddin, student at Haydarpaşa Faculty of Medicine

Recipient: C.P. Goerz company representative, Paris

Manufacturer: C.P. Goerz (German optical and photographic equipment manufacturer)

Object Type: International postal stationery postcard

Postal Administration: Ottoman Postal Service (UPU member)

Postal Route: Constantinople → Paris

Language: French / Ottoman Turkish (printed heading)

Material: Printed card stock with imprinted postage

Dimensions: Standard UPU postcard format

Collection Theme: Ottoman postal history, international scientific correspondence, optical equipment trade

Archival Significance: This postcard documents the international exchange between an Ottoman medical student and a European optical manufacturer. It illustrates how scientific knowledge and technical equipment catalogues circulated through postal networks, reflecting the intellectual and commercial connections between the Ottoman Empire and Europe in 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.