Date of use : 1906 Switzerland

Patented Albums Company of Lucerne, 1906 Discovery

A document dated October 19, 1906, in my collection reveals the existence of a little-known company based in Lucerne: Société des Albums Brevetés. This short letter, written in French and addressed to R. Gabler in Interlaken, mentions that the company's representative, Mr. van Westerborg, was away on a trip and that a reply would follow upon his return. These lines indicate that the firm operated in an organized commercial structure and worked through regional representatives within Switzerland.

As the name suggests, "Société des Albums Brevetés" — The Patented Albums Company — was most likely involved in the production of photographic or postcard albums. In the early 20th century, Lucerne was an important center of tourism and the photographic industry. Many small manufacturers promoted their products as breveté (patented), often referring to unique binding systems or page designs. This company appears to have been one of those niche producers serving the growing culture of collecting photographs and postcards.

Searches in the Lucerne Trade Register and the Swiss Patent Archives revealed no surviving records of the firm, suggesting that it was short-lived — probably active between 1900 and 1910. Nevertheless, this small document preserves a meaningful trace of early European photographic industry and the history of album-making in Switzerland.

Record Information

Title: Patented Albums Company of Lucerne, 1906 Discovery

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Album Manufacturing / Swiss Business History

Country: Switzerland

City: Lucerne → Interlaken

Date: 19 October 1906

Company: Société des Albums Brevetés, Lucerne (active c. 1900-1910)

Address: 5 Furrengasse, Lucerne (Telephone 857)

Representative: Mr. van Westerborg

Recipient: R. Gabler, Photographer, Interlaken

Object Type: Commercial postcard / business correspondence

Postal Administration: Swiss postal service

Postal Route: Lucerne → Interlaken

Language: French

Material: Printed card stock with handwritten message

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: Swiss photographic industry, album manufacturing, tourism-related commerce, early 20th century business networks

Archival Significance: This document preserves the only known trace of the Société des Albums Brevetés, a short-lived Lucerne-based company specializing in patented photographic or postcard albums. The letter's mention of a traveling representative, Mr. van Westerborg, illustrates the commercial networks that supported the album trade in early 20th century Switzerland. The correspondence with a photographer in Interlaken, a major tourist destination, suggests the company targeted clients serving the growing market for souvenir photographs and postcards. Despite the absence of official records in trade registers and patent archives, this single surviving document provides valuable evidence of the niche manufacturing sector that supported Switzerland's photography and tourism industries during this period.

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.