Date of use : 1892, Switzerland
Card Sent to Emil Wünsche Photography
This postcard was sent to Emil Wünsche, one of Germany's leading camera manufacturers in the late 19th century. Emil Wünsche (1851–1928) founded his company in Dresden in 1872, and it quickly became one of the largest producers of photographic equipment in Germany. The company specialized in the production of cameras, as well as lenses and darkroom accessories. Over time, Wünsche established collaborations with major German optical companies such as Carl Zeiss and Voigtländer. In the early 1900s, the company strengthened its corporate structure and adopted the name "Wünsche AG."
On the reverse side of the postcard, a resident of Wollishofen, a district of Zurich, Switzerland, requests a price list and information on ordering conditions for cameras and photographic accessories from the Emil Wünsche company. This document is particularly valuable as it demonstrates how international business relations were established in the photographic industry of the period.
The translation of the reverse side of the postcard is as follows:
✉️ LETTER CONTENT ✉️
To Mr. E. Wünsche – Dresden-A.
Having received your address through an acquaintance, I kindly ask you to send me your current price list for photographic apparatus and accessories as soon as possible. If your terms are suitable, I may be able to place significant orders with you. I also kindly request information about postage fees, customs duties, and the total price including delivery.
Respectfully yours,
H. Schneebeli jun.
Wollishofen – Zurich
June 8, 1892
Record Information
Title: Card Sent to Emil Wünsche Photography
Category: Photographic Manufacturing History / Commercial Correspondence
Subcategory: German Camera Industry / International Trade
Country: Switzerland (Origin) → Germany (Destination)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Zurich-Wollishofen → Dresden
Date of use: 8 June 1892 (based on letter date)
Sender: H. Schneebeli jun., Wollishofen, Zurich, Switzerland
Recipient: Emil Wünsche, Dresden-A., Germany
Manufacturer: Emil Wünsche (1851-1928), founded company in Dresden 1872, later Wünsche AG
Product Range: Cameras, lenses, darkroom accessories; collaborations with Carl Zeiss and Voigtländer
Object Type: International postcard / commercial inquiry
Postal Administration: Swiss postal service (UPU member)
Postal Route 🚂: Zurich → Dresden (1892 Swiss-German Railway Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 2-3 days (by rail)
Postal Features: Swiss postage stamps, international postal markings, UPU postcard format
Language: German
Material: Printed card stock with handwritten message
Dimensions: Standard UPU postcard format
Collection Theme: Swiss-German photographic trade, 19th century camera industry, international business correspondence, Emil Wünsche history
Archival Significance: This 1892 postcard documents a commercial inquiry from a Swiss resident to Emil Wünsche, a pioneering German camera manufacturer founded in Dresden (1872). The sender requests price lists and ordering conditions, demonstrating how international business relationships were initiated in the 19th-century photographic industry. The inquiry about postage, customs duties, and delivery costs reveals practical cross-border trade considerations. A primary source for understanding Swiss-German commercial networks and the marketing strategies of early camera manufacturers.
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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