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:

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)

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

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 direct commercial inquiry from a Swiss resident to Emil Wünsche, one of Germany's pioneering camera manufacturers. Emil Wünsche, who founded his Dresden company in 1872, became a leading producer of photographic equipment and established collaborations with optical giants Carl Zeiss and Voigtländer. The sender, H. Schneebeli jun. from Zurich-Wollishofen, requests price lists and ordering conditions, demonstrating how international business relationships were initiated in the late 19th century photographic industry. The detailed inquiry about postage fees, customs duties, and total delivery costs reveals the practical considerations of cross-border trade. This item is a primary source for understanding the commercial networks that connected Swiss customers with German manufacturers, the marketing strategies of camera companies, and the role of postal communication in facilitating the global spread of photographic technology. The card represents the early phase of Emil Wünsche's company, which would later become Wünsche AG, and illustrates the demand for German photographic equipment in neighboring European markets.

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.