Date of use : 1915 Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Cover to NPG: A Glimpse into Photographic History

The cover sent from the city of Mersin during the Ottoman Empire to Germany is a postal stationery (antiye) surcharged with a six-pointed crescent and star. Additional stamps were also used on the cover. The recipient of the cover is the "Neue Photographische Gesellschaft" (NPG) company. The company was founded in 1894 by Dr. Arthur Schwarz in Berlin. It specialized in the production of photographic materials, particularly photo postcards and printing paper. NPG was known as one of the largest companies in the world in postcard production.

The company developed high-quality processes for photographic prints, and the postcards it produced were distributed worldwide. Among these processes was the technology to reproduce photographs quickly and in large quantities. NPG rapidly grew and gained a global reputation, exporting photographic products to many different countries. The stereoscopic images, postcards, and other photographic products they produced were highly popular in both commercial and artistic circles.

After World War I, the company faced economic difficulties, reducing its production capacity in the 1920s due to financial problems. It went bankrupt in 1921 and ceased operations.

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