Date of use : 1942, Argentina
Photo Produits Gevaert Registered Cover to Switzerland with Censorship
Photo Produits Gevaert letterhead. Gevaert was founded in 1894 in the town of Mortsel, near Antwerp, Belgium, by Lieven Gevaert. The company quickly gained prominence in the industry with its production of photographic paper and chemicals for black-and-white photography. In 1964, Gevaert merged with the Germany-based company Agfa, forming "Agfa-Gevaert." This merger brought together the strengths of both companies, creating a world-leading corporation in photography, industrial imaging, and medical imaging. Today, Agfa-Gevaert focuses on digital imaging technologies, industrial printing, and the healthcare sector, moving away from traditional photography. When examining the details on the envelope, we first encounter the phrase "Placas - Films - Papeles."
This phrase, in Spanish, translates to "plates, films, and papers," indicating a wide range of photography-related products offered by the company. The slogan "Para Fotografias Perfectas" translates to "For Perfect Photographs," emphasizing the company's commitment to providing high-quality products. The envelope was sent as certified mail, marked with the term "Certificado" (tracking number). The recipient's details include the phrase "Geschwister Sommerhalder" (Sommerhalder siblings), indicating that the envelope was addressed to a family or business in Switzerland.
On the back of the envelope, the text "Est. Victoria F.C.C.A." is noticeable. "Estación Victoria" (Victoria Station) and "F.C.C.A." (Ferrocarril Central Argentino) point to a railway company in Argentina or a mailing address near that region. Additionally, the envelope bears an opening note label that reads: "Opened by Examiner 5013." This statement indicates that the envelope was opened and inspected by a censorship officer.
Such practices were common during wartime or periods of heightened security. The number "5013" refers to the identifier of the censoring officer. The phrase "P.C. 90" likely denotes a censorship procedure or a legal reference. The blue number "607" on the envelope likely corresponds to a censorship record or an internal processing number for the mail. Lastly, the stamp at the bottom represents the arrival mark from the postal office in the destination country.
Record Information
Title: Photo Produits Gevaert Registered Cover to Switzerland with Censorship
Category: Photographic Industry History / Wartime Postal History
Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Censored Mail
Country: Argentina (Origin) → Switzerland (Destination)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Buenos Aires → Gontenschwil (Aargau)
Date of use: 1942 (World War II period)
Company: Photo Produits Gevaert (Gevaert founded 1894 by Lieven Gevaert, Mortsel, Belgium; merged with Agfa 1964 to form Agfa-Gevaert)
Products: Placas (plates), Films, Papeles (papers) for photography
Slogan: "Para Fotografias Perfectas" (For Perfect Photographs)
Recipient: Geschwister Sommerhalder, Schwarzenberg 336, Gontenschwil (Aargau), Switzerland
Object Type: Registered commercial cover / business correspondence
Postal Route ✈️🚢: Buenos Aires, Argentina → Gontenschwil, Switzerland (1942 WWII Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 2-4 weeks (by ship/airmail during wartime)
Postal Features: "Certificado" (registered) label, censorship marking "Opened by Examiner 5013", "P.C. 90", blue number "607", railway marking "Est. Victoria F.C.C.A." (Ferrocarril Central Argentino), arrival stamp
Language: Spanish / German
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: Gevaert corporate history, Argentina-Switzerland trade, WWII censorship, neutral country correspondence, photographic supply networks
Archival Significance: This 1942 registered cover from Photo Produits Gevaert in Buenos Aires to Switzerland documents international photographic trade during World War II. The envelope's wartime journey is documented by multiple censorship markings: "Opened by Examiner 5013," "P.C. 90," and the blue number "607"—evidence of wartime postal surveillance affecting neutral countries' correspondence. This item is a primary source for understanding the operations of Gevaert's South American distribution network and the challenges of international commerce during WWII.
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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