Date of use : 1920 Germany

Passauer Photo-Börse to Goltz & Breutmann Berlin

This business envelope, bearing the Passauer Photo-Börse letterhead, was sent by a company based in Passau, Germany, specializing in the supply and trade of photographic equipment. Such firms played a key role in the photographic industry of the period, acting as intermediaries that provided both amateur and professional photographers with the materials and tools required for image production.

The recipient of the envelope is the company Goltz & Breutmann, founded in Berlin in 1898 by Hugo Breutmann. The firm expanded in 1899 with the partnership of Franz Goltz and soon established itself as an important manufacturer within the photographic equipment sector. In response to the growing technical demands of the early twentieth century, the company developed cameras designed for a range of specialized applications.

Goltz & Breutmann gained particular recognition during the First World War through the production of cameras used in aerial photography. This highlights the increasing importance of photography not only as an artistic medium but also as a technical and scientific tool. In 1921, the company reorganized under the name "Mentor Kamera Fabrik-Goltz & Breutmann," reflecting a shift toward a more structured industrial identity.

In the later years, large-scale destruction had a direct impact on the company's operations. The factory suffered severe damage during the heavy bombardments of February 1945, which ultimately led to the cessation of its production activities.

This envelope represents more than a simple piece of correspondence. It serves as a historical document illustrating commercial relationships, industrial development, and the broader network of photographic production and distribution in Europe during the early twentieth century.

Record Information

Title: Passauer Photo-Börse to Goltz & Breutmann Berlin

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Equipment Trade / Wartime Production

Country: Germany

City: Passau (Sender) → Berlin (Recipient)

Date of use: circa 1920

Company (Sender): Passauer Photo-Börse, Passau. Supplier and trader of photographic equipment, serving amateur and professional photographers.

Company (Recipient): Goltz & Breutmann, Berlin. Founded 1898 by Hugo Breutmann; Franz Goltz joined as partner in 1899. Manufacturer of photographic equipment, including aerial cameras during WWI. Reorganized as "Mentor Kamera Fabrik-Goltz & Breutmann" in 1921. Factory severely damaged in February 1945 bombardments, leading to cessation of production.

Object Type: Domestic commercial envelope

Postal Features: German postal markings, early 1920s commercial correspondence format.

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Passauer Photo-Börse, Goltz & Breutmann history, Mentor Kamera Fabrik, aerial photography in WWI, German photographic equipment manufacturing, interwar commercial networks, wartime industrial impact.

Archival Significance: This 1920 envelope from Passauer Photo-Börse to Goltz & Breutmann documents commercial networks in the German photographic industry. Goltz & Breutmann's role as a manufacturer, including WWI aerial cameras, and its later reorganization as Mentor Kamera Fabrik illustrate industrial evolution. The factory's destruction in 1945 marks the end of an era. This item is a primary source for understanding equipment trade, production, and the impact of war on photographic manufacturing.

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.

Fotokunst by Herman Schlegel: Photography Art & Materials in Berlin

Date of use : 1948 Germany

Fotokunst by Hermann Schlegel: Photography Art & Materials in Berlin

This document represents an important postal cover illustrating commercial relations between photographic businesses and manufacturing firms in post-war Germany, particularly within the Soviet occupation zone. The inscription "Fotokunst Hermann Schlegel" identifies the sender as a photographic studio or commercial photography business operating in Saalfeld-Saale. The term "Fotokunst" suggests an emphasis not only on technical production but also on artistic photographic practice. The sender's address is Saalstraße 32.

The sender's address at Saalstraße 32 indicates a locally based enterprise serving a regional clientele. Although detailed biographical information about Hermann Schlegel is limited, such businesses were typically operated as small, independently managed studios.

The recipient, "Luis Langebartels G.m.b.H., Fabrik Photogr. Papiere," refers to a photographic paper manufacturing company located in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Firms of this type specialized in the production of light-sensitive photographic papers, which were essential components of the photographic process. The designation "Fabrik" confirms its industrial nature. The correspondence can therefore be interpreted as part of a supply or ordering relationship between a studio and a manufacturer.

The stamp bearing the inscription "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" indicates that the item circulated within the postal system established in the Soviet occupation zone after 1945. The Saalfeld cancellation dated 1948 places the document within the immediate post-war period, during which Germany's postal infrastructure was undergoing reorganization under occupation authorities.

In terms of postal characteristics, the envelope combines printed commercial elements with handwritten markings, reflecting a standard format for business correspondence. Although it does not carry a registered mail marking, its direct link between a photographic studio and a manufacturing firm suggests commercial relevance.

Within its broader economic context, the document provides insight into the reconstruction of the photographic industry in post-war Germany. The supply of essential materials such as photographic paper was crucial for both professional and amateur photography. Such correspondence serves as micro-level evidence of economic recovery and the continuation of commercial networks.

From a collecting perspective, this cover intersects several thematic categories, including post-war German postal history, Soviet occupation zone philately, and the photographic industry. Its direct connection between producer and user enhances its archival value.

Record Information

Title: Fotokunst by Hermann Schlegel: Photography Art & Materials in Berlin

Category: Photographic Industry History / Post-War Reconstruction

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Soviet Occupation Zone

Country: Soviet Occupation Zone (Germany) → Berlin (Western sector)

City: Saalfeld-Saale → Berlin-Charlottenburg

Date of use: 1948 (Saalfeld cancellation)

Company (Sender): Fotokunst Hermann Schlegel, Saalstraße 32, Saalfeld-Saale - Photographic studio and commercial photography business emphasizing artistic practice.

Company (Recipient): Luis Langebartels G.m.b.H., Fabrik Photogr. Papiere (Photographic Paper Factory), Berlin-Charlottenburg.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (business correspondence)

Postal Features: Stamp with "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" inscription, Saalfeld postal cancellation (1948), standard business format

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Post-war German photographic industry, Soviet occupation zone postal history, studio-manufacturer relations, reconstruction of commercial networks, photographic paper supply.

Archival Significance: This 1948 cover documents the commercial link between a photographic studio in the Soviet occupation zone and a Berlin-based manufacturer of photographic paper. It provides evidence of continued business relations across emerging Cold War divisions and illustrates the material supply chains essential for photographic practice during Germany's post-war reconstruction. The "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" stamp places it within a specific postal and political context, enhancing its value for understanding the period's economic geography.

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.