Date of use : 1950, India
Parra-Mantois & Cie: French Pioneer in Optical Glass Making
Parra-Mantois & Cie was a French manufacturer that became prominent in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through its specialization in high-grade optical and scientific glass. The company played an important role in supplying precision materials required for advanced optical instruments, contributing to the broader development of scientific and photographic technologies during this period.
Its production focused on optical glass used in instruments such as microscopes, photographic lenses, and targeting devices. These materials required a high level of technical control and consistency, and Parra-Mantois established a reputation for meeting these demanding standards. As a result, its products were utilized in both civilian applications, including scientific research and photography, and in more specialized technical fields.
Within the wider European context, the company operated alongside other leading manufacturers in the optical industry, contributing to a competitive and innovative environment. This period saw rapid advancements in lens design and optical precision, and firms like Parra-Mantois were essential in supplying the raw materials that made such progress possible.
Although the company was known for producing high-quality optical glass, variations in production consistency could occasionally occur, and the relatively high cost of its materials limited accessibility for some users. Despite these constraints, Parra-Mantois & Cie maintained a significant position within the optical sector and contributed to the evolution of precision optics.
Today, the company's legacy can be understood through its role in supporting the technological foundations of modern optical systems. Its contributions reflect a period in which advancements in material science directly influenced the development of photography, microscopy, and other visual technologies.
Record Information
Title: Parra-Mantois & Cie: French Pioneer in Optical Glass Making
Category: Optical Industry History / Material Science
Subcategory: Lens Manufacturing / International Trade
Country: India (Origin) → France (Destination)
🗺️ Show Route
City: India → Paris / France
Date of use: circa 1950
Company (Sender): Parra-Mantois & Cie. French manufacturer of high-grade optical and scientific glass. Specialized in glass for microscopes, photographic lenses, and targeting devices. Active in late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Object Type: International commercial envelope (sent from India)
Postal Route ✈️🚢: India → France (1950s Mixed Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 3-5 days (airmail) / 2-3 weeks (sea mail)
Postal Features: Indian stamps, commercial correspondence markings, international routing
Language: English, French
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: Parra-Mantois & Cie history, optical glass manufacturing, French optical industry, lens technology, scientific instrumentation, post-WWII trade, Indian commercial correspondence
Archival Significance: This 1950 envelope from Parra-Mantois & Cie documents the international reach of a leading French optical glass manufacturer. The company's role in supplying materials for microscopes, photographic lenses, and precision instruments was essential to technological progress. This item illustrates the global trade in optical components and the material foundations of photography and science in the mid-20th 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.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
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