Date of use : 1951, Germany

FOKI Foto und Film: Landshut Photographic Dealer to Max Tietze, Eggenfelden

This postcard represents a piece of commercial correspondence sent by a photographic supply retailer operating in the Bavarian city of Landshut. The printed heading on the front identifies the business as "FOKI Foto und Film." The card also includes the phrase "Größtes niederbayerisches Fotohaus," which translates as "the largest photographic store in Lower Bavaria." According to the address printed on the card, the company was located at Altstadt 31 in Landshut.

The printed business information and the company stamp suggest that the firm functioned as a regional distributor or retail dealer specializing in photographic equipment and film products. Such photographic supply stores played an important role in the revival of the photographic market in Germany after the Second World War. During the war years production and distribution networks had been severely disrupted, and the postwar period saw a gradual rebuilding of supply chains together with a renewed demand for photographic equipment.

The recipient of the postcard is identified as Max Tietze, whose address is listed as Oettinger Straße 24 in the town of Eggenfelden. Eggenfelden is a smaller Bavarian town that historically served as a regional center for surrounding rural communities. It is therefore possible that the recipient was either an amateur photographer or the owner of a small photographic studio operating within the local area.

The message printed on the reverse side addresses a request for a photographic enlarger. In the text the sender explains that a Rex enlarging apparatus is not currently available in stock. The writer further notes that delivery times for this device have become considerably longer and that waiting periods of up to two or three months must sometimes be expected. This statement provides valuable insight into supply conditions in the photographic equipment market during the early postwar period.

Photographic enlargers were essential tools in the process of producing photographic prints. These devices allowed negatives to be projected onto photographic paper within the darkroom environment. As a result, the absence of such equipment could directly affect the ability of photographers to produce finished prints.

From a philatelic perspective the postcard bears a ten-pfennig postage stamp issued in postwar West Germany. An additional Berlin tax stamp is also visible on the card. The postal cancellation indicates a mailing date of June 26, 1951, placing the correspondence firmly within the period of economic reconstruction in Germany.

From a collecting standpoint this document represents a valuable example of correspondence related to the photographic trade. It can be studied both within the field of postal history and within the context of photographic technology and commerce. The mention of unavailable equipment and extended delivery times provides concrete evidence of the economic and logistical challenges affecting the photographic market in the early 1950s.

Viewed in a broader historical context, the postcard illustrates how the photographic industry was shaped not only by technological innovation but also by economic conditions and supply networks. Communication between photographers and equipment dealers was largely conducted through postal correspondence. For this reason such documents should be regarded not merely as postal artifacts but also as historical records reflecting the functioning of the photographic market during a period of reconstruction and transition.

Record Information

Title: FOKI Foto und Film Business Postcard (Landshut to Eggenfelden)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: West German Photographic Retailers / Post-War Supply Conditions

Country: Germany (Sender: Landshut) → Germany (Recipient: Eggenfelden)

City: Landshut, Bavaria (Sender: FOKI Foto und Film) → Eggenfelden, Bavaria (Recipient: Max Tietze)

Date of use: 26 June 1951

Company (Sender): FOKI Foto und Film, Altstadt 31, Landshut, Bavaria, Germany. A photographic equipment and film retailer, described as "the largest photographic store in Lower Bavaria" (Größtes niederbayerisches Fotohaus).

Object Type: Commercial postcard (business correspondence)

Postal Features: West German 10-pfennig postage stamp; Berlin tax stamp; Landshut postal cancellation (26 June 1951).

Language: German

Material: Paper (postcard stock)

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: FOKI Foto und Film, Landshut commerce, Bavarian photographic trade, Rex enlarger, post-war German economy, photographic equipment shortages, Max Tietze, Eggenfelden, Deutsche Bundespost, 1950s postal history, photographic darkroom equipment.

Archival Significance: This 1951 postcard documents a Bavarian photographic dealer's correspondence regarding unavailable enlarger equipment, providing concrete evidence of post-war supply chain disruptions and extended delivery times affecting the German photographic market during the early reconstruction 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.

Date of use : 22 April 1976, Jamaica

Photo Centre Jamaica Photographic Stationery

This commercial envelope represents an interesting postal artifact documenting the commercial and technical communication networks linking the Caribbean region and the United States during the 1970s. The printed letterhead on the upper left corner identifies the sender as Photo Centre Limited, a company based in Kingston, Jamaica. The slogan "Everything Photographic" suggests that the business offered a broad range of photographic products and services. The envelope lists addresses associated with the company, including the Half Way Tree district and South Odeon Avenue, both located within the Kingston metropolitan area. Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica, served as the island's principal commercial and administrative center during the twentieth century.

Photo Centre Limited likely operated as a photographic retail and distribution business offering cameras, film materials, photographic processing services, and related accessories. During the 1960s and 1970s the popularity of amateur photography expanded rapidly, creating a growing demand for photographic equipment and supplies. Businesses of this type therefore played an important role in supplying photographic materials throughout the Caribbean region. The presence of telephone numbers and a cable address ("Photocent") on the envelope indicates that the company maintained active participation in international commercial communication networks.

The letter is addressed to Cinefot International Corporation, located at One Park Avenue in New York City. This address lies within Manhattan, an area historically associated with international trade and corporate headquarters. Companies such as Cinefot International Corporation were typically involved in the distribution and export of photographic or cinematographic equipment. The correspondence between Photo Centre Limited and this New York firm therefore likely relates to the supply or purchase of photographic equipment, film materials, or other technical goods.

The postal cancellation visible on the envelope reads Half Way Tree, Jamaica, with the date 22 April 1976. Half Way Tree has long been an important commercial district within the Kingston metropolitan area and has served as a significant postal distribution center. This cancellation indicates that the envelope entered the international postal system through a local post office in the Kingston region.

The envelope also bears the marking "Via Air Mail," indicating that the item was transported through the international airmail system. By the 1970s airmail had become the fastest and most reliable method for international commercial correspondence. The Jamaican postage stamp affixed to the envelope depicts the College of Arts, Science and Technology, an educational institution whose architecture reflects Jamaica's national development in the post-independence era. Such designs were commonly used in postage stamps to highlight national institutions and cultural identity.

From a philatelic perspective, the envelope contains several notable elements. It was transmitted through the international airmail system, it features a printed commercial letterhead from a photographic company, and it includes a postmark from the Half Way Tree postal district in Kingston. These characteristics make the envelope relevant not only for postal history but also for the study of photographic commerce.

From a collecting standpoint, this document may be placed within several thematic categories, including photographic trade documentation, Caribbean postal history, international airmail correspondence, and commercial advertising envelopes. In particular, correspondence between photographic supply companies provides valuable insight into the global distribution networks that supported the spread of photographic technology during the twentieth century.

In conclusion, this envelope represents a small yet meaningful historical artifact illustrating communication between a photographic business in Kingston and an international distribution company in New York. Such documents demonstrate how photographic technology circulated not only through manufacturing centers but also through complex global trade networks. In the broader context of Caribbean–North American commercial relations, this envelope offers a valuable example of the international character of the photographic industry.

Record Information

Title: Photo Centre Jamaica Photographic Stationery

Category: Photographic Industry History / Caribbean Trade

Subcategory: International Correspondence / Airmail

Country: Jamaica (Sender: Kingston) → USA (Recipient: New York) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Kingston (Sender: Photo Centre Limited) → New York City (Recipient: Cinefot International Corporation)

Date of use: 22 April 1976

Company (Sender): Photo Centre Limited, Kingston, Jamaica. A photographic retail and distribution business operating with the slogan "Everything Photographic." Contact details include telephone numbers and cable address "Photocent."

Company (Recipient): Cinefot International Corporation, One Park Avenue, New York, N.Y., USA. Likely a distributor of photographic or cinematographic equipment, serving international markets.

Object Type: International airmail envelope

Postal Route ✈️: Kingston, Jamaica → New York, USA (22 April 1976) (Estimated Route)

Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 2-3 days (airmail via Caribbean and US East Coast routes)

Postal Features: Jamaican stamp depicting College of Arts, Science and Technology; "Via Air Mail" marking; Half Way Tree, Kingston postal cancellation (22.IV.76).

Language: English

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Photo Centre Limited, Kingston commerce, Jamaican photographic trade, Cinefot International, New York, 1970s airmail, Caribbean-USA trade, College of Arts stamp, Half Way Tree, post-independence Jamaica.

Archival Significance: This 1976 airmail envelope documents the commercial link between a Jamaican photographic retailer and a New York distributor, illustrating the international trade networks connecting Caribbean markets with U.S. suppliers in the photographic industry.

✈️ Postal Route: Jamaica → USA (22 April 1976) (Estimated Route)

📍 Kingston, Jamaica 🇯🇲 → 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida → 🇺🇸 Atlanta, Georgia → 🇺🇸 New York City

📮 Photo Centre Limited (Kingston, Jamaica) → ✈️ Airmail via Caribbean & US hubs → 📬 Cinefot International Corporation (New York, USA)
"Everything Photographic" | College of Arts, Science and Technology stamp | Half Way Tree postmark | Estimated travel time: 2-3 days

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) – https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright

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.

Date of use : circa 1949, United Kingdom

England – Bell & Howell Camera Trade Reference

This envelope documents an international commercial correspondence between two important companies involved in the optical and motion picture technology industries during the mid-twentieth century. The envelope was sent from Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd., located in Leicester, England, and addressed to the Bell & Howell Company in Chicago, United States. The address indicates that the correspondence was directed to the attention of Mr. James P. Smith, who was associated with the Bell & Howell organization.

Taylor, Taylor & Hobson was an optical manufacturing company founded in England during the late nineteenth century. The firm was established in 1886 by William Taylor and Thomas Smithies Taylor in Leicester. Initially the company specialized in optical instruments and precision measurement devices. During the early twentieth century the firm became increasingly important in the production of photographic and cinematographic lenses. The company's "Cooke" lenses became widely recognized for their optical quality and were used extensively in both photography and motion picture production.

The recipient of the envelope, the Bell & Howell Company, was founded in Chicago in 1907 by Donald J. Bell and Albert S. Howell. The company quickly developed into one of the leading manufacturers of motion picture cameras, film projectors, and film processing equipment. Throughout the first half of the twentieth century Bell & Howell played a significant role in the development and standardization of motion picture technology. As a result, close technical and commercial relationships developed between British optical manufacturers and American motion picture equipment producers.

The envelope bears a "By Air Mail – Par Avion" label, indicating that the item was transported through the international airmail system. Following the Second World War, transatlantic airmail routes expanded significantly, allowing faster communication between Europe and North America. Business correspondence, technical documentation, and commercial negotiations were frequently transmitted using airmail services during this period.

A British postage stamp with a value of one shilling is affixed to the envelope and features the portrait of King George VI. This stamp belongs to one of the standard definitive series used by the British postal system during the period. The postal cancellation indicates Leicester as the place of mailing, confirming that the letter entered the international postal network from that city.

From a collecting perspective, this envelope can be associated with several thematic fields. It represents a document related to the history of optical and photographic technology. It also reflects the international cooperation that existed within the motion picture industry during the twentieth century. In addition, as an example of transatlantic airmail between the United Kingdom and the United States, the envelope holds value within postal history collections.

In conclusion, this envelope represents more than a routine commercial correspondence. It serves as a small yet meaningful historical document illustrating the international industrial networks that supported the development of optical and motion picture technology during the twentieth century. The communication between an optical manufacturer in Leicester and a motion picture equipment producer in Chicago reflects the broader technical cooperation that shaped the global evolution of photographic and cinematic technologies.

Record Information

Title: England – Bell & Howell Camera Trade Reference

Category: Optical Industry History / Motion Picture Technology

Subcategory: International Commercial Correspondence / Airmail

Country: United Kingdom (Sender) → USA (Recipient) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Leicester (Sender) → Chicago, Illinois (Recipient)

Date of use: circa 1949

Company (Sender): Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd., Leicester, England. Founded 1886, renowned for "Cooke" lenses for photography and cinematography.

Company (Recipient): Bell & Howell Company, Chicago, Illinois, USA (Attn: Mr. James P. Smith). Founded 1907, leading manufacturer of motion picture equipment.

Object Type: International airmail envelope (commercial correspondence)

Postal Route ✈️: Leicester, UK → Chicago, USA (circa 1949) (Estimated Route)

Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 2-4 days (transatlantic airmail via London, New York)

Postal Features: "By Air Mail – Par Avion" label; British 1-shilling definitive stamp with King George VI portrait; Leicester postal cancellation.

Language: English

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Taylor, Taylor & Hobson, Cooke lenses, Leicester optics, Bell & Howell, Chicago, motion picture industry, transatlantic airmail, King George VI stamp, postwar industrial cooperation, UK-USA trade.

Archival Significance: This circa 1949 airmail envelope documents the commercial link between a leading British optical manufacturer and a major U.S. motion picture equipment company, illustrating postwar international cooperation in the photographic and cinematic industries.

✈️ Postal Route: Leicester, UK → Chicago, USA (circa 1949)

📍 Leicester, UK 🇬🇧 → ✈️ London → 🌊 Atlantic Ocean → ✈️ New York 🇺🇸 → 🚂 Chicago, Illinois

📮 Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd. (Leicester, Cooke lenses) → ✈️ Transatlantic Airmail → 📬 Bell & Howell Company (Chicago, motion picture equipment)
King George VI 1-shilling stamp | Postwar UK-USA commercial cooperation | Estimated travel time: 2-4 days (circa 1949)

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) – https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright

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.