Date of use : 1899 France

1899 Kodak Envelope: Brand Protection in Early Photography

In 1899, a business envelope with a KODAK letterhead was sent from Paris to Argentan. The envelope bears the inscription, "Aucun Appareil Photographique n'est un KODAK s'il n'est fabriqué par la Cie Eastman et ne porte sa marque" ("No photographic apparatus is a KODAK unless it is manufactured by the Eastman Company and bears its trademark").

This text serves as a warning used by the Eastman Kodak Company to promote its original Kodak-branded products and protect against counterfeit items. Eastman Kodak Company, founded in 1888 by George Eastman, is an American company that revolutionized photography. It is known for its cameras, films, and other photographic products. The envelope is addressed to the train manager in Argentan.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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