Date of use : 1960 France

Cover : PHOTO-SERVICE France to New York

The ET. PHOTO-SERVICE business envelope was sent from France to the CINEFOT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, located in New York, United States, in the year 1960. The marking "R. JULY" on the envelope likely refers to the owner or founder of the company. It is believed that ET. PHOTO-SERVICE acted as the French distributor for Hasselblad or similar professional camera brands.

The recipient, CINEFOT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, was engaged in the import and distribution of film and photographic equipment during that period. The company's name frequently appears in philatelic documents, especially on covers sent from Europe. This indicates that CINEFOT had strong commercial ties with European suppliers.

The postage fee of 1.20 francs affixed to the envelope was insufficient for the airmail rate to the United States at the time. As a result, the envelope was stamped with "Postage Due", and an additional fee was requested from the recipient. This cover not only reflects the commercial exchange between two companies but also provides insight into the postal regulations of the period and the international cooperation within the photographic industry.

Record Information

Title: Cover : PHOTO-SERVICE France to New York

Category: Photographic Trade History / Postal History

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Postage Due

Country: France (Origin) / United States (Destination)

City: → New York

Date of use: 1960

Sender: ET. PHOTO-SERVICE (R. JULY), France

Recipient: CINEFOT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, 303 West 42nd Street, New York (36)

Object Type: Commercial airmail cover / business correspondence

Postal Features: 1.20 franc postage (insufficient for airmail rate), "POSTAGE DUE" marking, "FOREIGN SECTION GPO N.Y." handstamp

Business Context: ET. PHOTO-SERVICE likely French distributor for Hasselblad and professional camera brands; CINEFOT INTERNATIONAL engaged in import/distribution of film and photographic equipment

Language: French / English

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard business envelope format

Collection Theme: Franco-American photographic trade, commercial airmail, postage due markings, 1960s business networks

Archival Significance: This 1960 cover documents the commercial relationship between ET. PHOTO-SERVICE, a French photographic equipment distributor, and CINEFOT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, a New York-based importer of film and photographic supplies. The envelope's insufficient postage (1.20 francs) and subsequent "POSTAGE DUE" marking, along with the "FOREIGN SECTION GPO N.Y." handstamp, provide a vivid illustration of international postal regulations and the consequences of incorrect franking. The cover demonstrates the close commercial ties between European suppliers and American distributors in the photographic industry, with ET. PHOTO-SERVICE likely serving as a French distributor for brands like Hasselblad. CINEFOT's frequent appearance on European-sent covers confirms its role as a key American importer. This item is a primary source for understanding the logistics of transatlantic photographic trade, the practical challenges of international postage, and the networks that connected the French and American photographic markets in the post-war era.

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.
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