Date of use : 1947, Palestine
Damiani Cover: Mandate Palestine Optical & Photo House
Although comprehensive information about the company is lacking, the phrase "Leading Qualified Optician" suggests that Damiani was active not only in the field of optics but also played a significant role in the world of photography. This description indicates that the company was likely a progressive business that closely followed the modern technologies of its time and possibly maintained direct connections with Europe. It is highly probable that Optical & Photo House B. Damiani offered a product range that included not only eyeglasses and other optical items but also photographic equipment such as cameras, stereoscopes, and photographic plates.
The surname "Damiani" is of Italian origin, suggesting that the founder or owner of the business may have been a member of an Italian family that had emigrated to Palestine. The presence of the word "PALESTINE" on the envelope and the postal cancellation mark indicates that this item was sent during the British Mandate period (1920–1948). Although the date on the postmark is not entirely clear, it strongly appears to be from the year 1947. Furthermore, the stamp affixed to the envelope bears the word "PALESTINE" along with Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions, which are characteristic of this historical period.
Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, such stamps and postal practices were discontinued. Items like this envelope are not only valuable for tracing historical commercial relations but also serve as significant documents reflecting the evolution of postal systems and the political transformations in the region.
Record Information
Title: Damiani Cover: Mandate Palestine Optical & Photo House
Category: Photographic Trade History / Postal History
Subcategory: Mandate Palestine / Optical Industry
Country: Palestine (British Mandate) (Origin) → France (Destination)
🗺️ Show Route
City: Jerusalem → Paris
Date of use: c. 1947 (based on postmark and British Mandate period 1920-1948)
Company: Optical & Photo House B. Damiani, Jerusalem
Description: "Leading Qualified Optician" – likely offered optical goods and photographic equipment
Recipient: Hepner Veroudart & Cie., 16 avenue Hoche, Paris VIII, France
Object Type: Commercial postal cover / business correspondence
Postal Administration: British Mandate Palestine postal service
Postal Route ✈️: Jerusalem → Paris
Stamp Features: "PALESTINE" inscription, Arabic and Hebrew text
Language: English / French
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: Middle Eastern photographic trade, Italian diaspora in Palestine, British Mandate commerce, Palestine-France business relations
Archival Significance: This 1947 cover from Optical & Photo House B. Damiani in Jerusalem documents the commercial activities of an Italian-origin family business in Mandate Palestine. The "PALESTINE" stamp with Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions is characteristic of the British Mandate period (1920-1948) and would become obsolete after 1948. This item is a primary source for understanding the multicultural business environment of pre-1948 Palestine and the commercial networks linking Jerusalem with Paris in the years immediately preceding the establishment of Israel.
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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