Date of use : 1919 Germany

Kieser & Pfeufer and the Mystery of the "Prinzess" Camera

Kieser & Pfeufer was a photography company that operated in Munich, Germany, between 1898 and 1945 (?). Located at Marienplatz 22, the company specialized in selling cameras and photographic equipment while also holding the title of "Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant", meaning it was an official supplier to the Royal Court of Bavaria. Among the company's promotional activities were poster stamps featuring the name "Kieser & Pfeufer" along with images of photography-related products. Dating back to around 1910, these stamps are considered significant collectibles that reflect the advertising approach of the era. The company is believed to have produced a camera named "Prinzess."

However, it is also possible that this camera was manufactured by another company and sold under the Kieser & Pfeufer brand. The "Prinzess" is a strut-folding camera with a metal body covered in leather, designed for use with plates or film packs. The front of the camera extends forward using two pairs of support struts, and the shutter is mounted in an inverted position on the front plate. This unusual design makes adjusting the shutter speed and aperture more difficult, as the controls are located at the rear of the camera.

A model of this camera auctioned by Leitz has been speculated to have links to Rodenstock. However, the camera does not bear the Rodenstock name, and the serial number of the shutter indicates that it was produced before 1912. Despite this, the front of the camera prominently displays the name of Kieser & Pfeufer, based in Munich. Different versions of the camera were equipped with Steinheil 11cm f/4.7 and Rodenstock 105mm f/4.5 Eurynar lenses.

While these high-quality lenses suggest that the camera was a premium product, its unique design elements make it a challenging model to operate. Due to these uncertainties, the "Prinzess" remains one of the more enigmatic cameras in photographic history. It is believed to have been produced between 1912 and 1925. On the back of a related card, the following message is written:

Deutsch (Original):

Lieber Herr Krause,

Bitte senden Sie uns Ihre fotografischen Negative, insbesondere die Aufnahmen Ihrer Glasplatten.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Kieser & Pfeufer

English Translation:

Dear Mr. Krause,

Please send us your photographic negatives, especially the exposures of your glass plates.

Yours sincerely,

Kieser & Pfeufer

Record Information

Title: Kieser & Pfeufer and the Mystery of the "Prinzess" Camera

Category: Photographic Manufacturing History / Commercial Ephemera

Subcategory: German Camera Trade / Royal Court Suppliers

Country: Germany (Domestic Mail) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Munich

Date of use: c. 1919

Company: Kieser & Pfeufer, Marienplatz 22, Munich (active 1898-1945)

Royal Title: Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant (Royal Bavarian Court Supplier)

Camera Model: "Prinzess" strut-folding camera (c.1912-1925)

Object Type: Advertising postcard / business correspondence

Postal Route 🚂: Munich, Germany (Local/Regional Distribution - c.1919)

Estimated Travel Time: 1 day (local Bavarian delivery)

Language: German

Material: Printed card stock

Collection Theme: Bavarian court suppliers, German camera retail, enigmatic camera models

Archival Significance: This postcard from Kieser & Pfeufer documents a prestigious Munich-based Royal Bavarian Court Supplier. The enigmatic "Prinzess" strut-folding camera (c.1912-1925) represents a fascinating mystery—possibly manufactured by another company and rebranded. The camera's availability with high-quality Steinheil and Rodenstock lenses suggests it was a premium product, despite its challenging ergonomics. This item is a primary source for understanding the retail side of early 20th-century German photography and the complex relationships between retailers, manufacturers, and brands.

🚂 Postal Route: Munich Local/Regional Delivery (c.1919)

📍 Kieser & Pfeufer, Marienplatz 22, Munich 🏛️ → 🚂 Bavarian Railway Mail → 📬 Mr. Krause, [Bavarian Address]

📮 Kieser & Pfeufer (Munich, Marienplatz 22) → 🚂 Bavarian postal service → 📬 Mr. Krause (customer)
Königlich Bayerischer Hoflieferant | "Prinzess" strut-folding camera | Steinheil & Rodenstock lenses | Request for photographic negatives & glass plates

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 : 1962, Switzerland

Letter to Obergassner K.G. Photographic Supplier

This envelope represents a typical example of commercial postal correspondence documenting the business relationships between photographic equipment traders in Switzerland and Germany. The printed letterhead in the lower left section of the envelope identifies the sender as Foto-Import Lüthard. The company's address is given as Staffelstrasse 22, Wettingen, Switzerland, and a telephone number is also included. The presence of this information indicates that the firm functioned not merely as a small photographic shop but as a commercial enterprise engaged in professional trade. The designation "Foto-Import" clearly suggests that the company specialized in the import and distribution of photographic equipment, which may have included cameras, lenses, photographic film, and darkroom supplies.

Wettingen is located in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland and developed during the twentieth century as a center for small and medium-sized commercial enterprises. Switzerland played an important role in the trade of photographic equipment, partly because of its strong economic connections with neighboring countries such as Germany and France, both of which were major centers of photographic technology. Businesses such as Foto-Import Lüthard likely acted as intermediaries between manufacturers and retailers within the broader European photographic market.

Within the broader commercial context of the period, the envelope provides evidence of the extensive distribution networks that supported the photographic equipment trade in Europe. During the 1950s and 1960s the widespread popularity of photography led to a significant increase in demand for cameras, film, and related accessories. While countries such as Germany and Japan were leading manufacturers of photographic technology, countries such as Switzerland often functioned as important centers for commercial distribution and trade. The correspondence between an import company in Wettingen and a commercial enterprise in Munich therefore reflects the interconnected economic networks that characterized the European photographic industry during this period.

Record Information

Title: Foto-Import Lüthard Business Envelope (Wettingen to Munich)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Swiss Photographic Importers / European Distribution Networks

Country: Switzerland (Sender: Wettingen) → Germany (Recipient: Munich)

City: Wettingen, Aargau (Sender: Foto-Import Lüthard) → Munich, Bavaria (Recipient: Obergassner K.G.)

Date of use: 1962

Company (Sender): Foto-Import Lüthard, Staffelstrasse 22, Wettingen, Switzerland. A photographic equipment import and distribution company active in the mid-20th century, serving the Swiss and European markets.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (international business correspondence)

Postal Features: Swiss postage stamps; Wettingen postal cancellation (1962).

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Foto-Import Lüthard, Wettingen commerce, Swiss photographic trade, Aargau, Obergassner K.G., Munich optical industry, Swiss-German trade, 1960s postal history, European photographic distribution networks.

Archival Significance: This 1962 envelope documents commercial correspondence between a Swiss photographic import company (Foto-Import Lüthard in Wettingen) and a German photographic supplier (Obergassner K.G. in Munich), illustrating the cross-border trade networks that distributed photographic equipment across Europe during the post-war 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.