Date of use : 1960, India

India Business Letter to Obergassner K.G, Germany

This document is a commercial airmail envelope sent from Bombay (today Mumbai) in India to the city of Munich in Germany. The addressee indicated on the front of the envelope is Obergassner K.G., a company whose field of activity is described as "Photo–Kino–Optik," referring to photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment. The sender is listed as Dave Brothers, with an address at Waterloo Mansion, opposite Regal Cinema, Bombay. This location corresponds to a commercial district in the Colaba–Fort area, a part of the city historically associated with cultural venues, cinemas, and international trade.

Archival information about Dave Brothers is limited; however, the address and commercial context suggest that the company was likely involved in the distribution or trade of photographic equipment, cinema accessories, or optical goods. Bombay developed into one of the major centers of film production and cinema culture in South Asia during the twentieth century. Businesses operating in this environment frequently participated in international trade networks that connected local markets with European manufacturers and distributors.

The recipient company, Obergassner K.G., appears to have been a Munich-based enterprise dealing in photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment. The designation "Photo–Kino–Optik" indicates a broad range of activities that likely included cameras, projection equipment, lenses, and various photographic accessories. Munich became an important center for the trade of photographic and optical products in West Germany after the Second World War. Germany had already established a strong international reputation in optical engineering and camera manufacturing since the late nineteenth century.

During the mid-twentieth century the photographic and cinema industries expanded rapidly across the world. The growth of film production, the widespread presence of cinemas, and the increasing popularity of amateur photography all contributed to a rising demand for photographic equipment. International trade networks developed between European producers and distribution centers in Asia and other regions. Cities such as Bombay served as important commercial hubs where photographic and cinematic technologies circulated within regional and global markets.

The envelope itself is a typical airmail cover with red and blue border markings, a format widely used for international postal communication during the twentieth century. The inscription "By Air Mail / Par Avion" indicates that the letter was transported by air. The development of international airmail services after the Second World War significantly reduced delivery times between continents, making it an essential tool for companies engaged in international trade.

On the reverse side of the envelope, postage stamps issued by the Indian postal administration are visible. One of the stamps depicts an industrial or technical scene, reflecting themes commonly used in mid-twentieth-century postage designs to illustrate national development and technological progress. The postal cancellation confirms that the item entered the international postal network through the Bombay postal system.

From a collecting perspective, this envelope belongs to several thematic categories. It can be associated with collections focusing on airmail history, commercial postal correspondence, photographic industry history, and international trade documentation. As a physical trace of communication between India and Germany within the photographic and optical trade, the document illustrates how technological industries were interconnected through global commercial networks.

Record Information

Title: India Business Letter to Obergassner K.G, Germany

Category: Photographic Industry History / International Trade

Subcategory: International Correspondence / Airmail

Country: India (Sender: Bombay) → West Germany (Recipient: Munich) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Bombay (Mumbai) (Sender: Dave Brothers) → Munich (Recipient: Obergassner K.G.)

Date of use: 1960

Company (Sender): Dave Brothers, Waterloo Mansion, opposite Regal Cinema, Bombay, India. A commercial firm likely involved in the distribution or trade of photographic equipment, cinema accessories, or optical goods, operating in Bombay's commercial district.

Company (Recipient): Obergassner K.G., Munich, West Germany. A German enterprise dealing in photographic, cinematic, and optical equipment ("Photo–Kino–Optik").

Object Type: International commercial airmail envelope with printed letterhead

Postal Route ✈️: Bombay, India → Munich, Germany (1960) (Estimated Route)

Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 3-5 days (airmail via Middle Eastern and European routes)

Postal Features: Indian postage stamps with industrial/technical designs; Bombay postal cancellation; red and blue airmail border; "By Air Mail / Par Avion" inscription.

Language: English

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Notable Feature: Commercial correspondence between a Bombay-based firm and a German photographic equipment company; airmail communication; reference to "Photo–Kino–Optik" indicating the recipient's business sector.

Collection Theme: Dave Brothers, Bombay, Indian photographic trade, Obergassner K.G., Munich, German photographic industry, international airmail, 1960s commerce, South Asian-European trade, cinema equipment distribution.

Archival Significance: This 1960 airmail envelope documents the international trade of photographic and cinematic equipment between India and West Germany, illustrating the global commercial networks that connected South Asian markets with European suppliers.

✈️ Postal Route: India → Germany (1960) (Estimated Route)

📍 Bombay (Mumbai), India 🇮🇳 → 🇵🇰 Pakistan → 🇮🇷 Iran → 🇮🇶 Iraq → 🇸🇾 Syria → 🇹🇷 Turkey → 🇬🇷 Greece → 🇮🇹 Italy → 🇦🇹 Austria → 🇩🇪 Munich, Germany

📮 Dave Brothers (Bombay, India) → ✈️ Airmail via Middle East & Europe → 📬 Obergassner K.G. (Munich, Germany)
Commercial correspondence | Photo–Kino–Optik equipment | Estimated travel time: 3-5 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 1960s-1970s, Sweden

Sweden – Foto Magazine Business Stationery to Germany

This envelope documents international correspondence sent from an organization identified as "Foto-Magasinet" in Fagersta, Sweden, to the company Obergassner K.G. in Munich, West Germany. The printed heading on the envelope reads "FOTO-magasinet," followed by the address Västmannavägen 5 A in the Swedish town of Fagersta. At the bottom of the envelope appears the Swedish phrase "Allt för foto och kino," meaning "everything for photography and cinema," a slogan commonly associated with photographic publications and enthusiast communities.

The word "magasinet" in Swedish can refer both to a shop and to a magazine. In this particular context, however, the typographic presentation and wording suggest that the organization was likely connected to a photographic magazine or publication rather than solely a retail store. During the decades following the Second World War, photography experienced a major expansion across Europe, and numerous magazines dedicated to photographic technology and amateur photography appeared. These publications commonly featured camera reviews, technical articles, practical advice for photographers, and discussions related to photographic culture. It is therefore plausible that Foto-Magasinet functioned as a periodical publication or an organization associated with photographic enthusiasts.

The envelope is addressed to Obergassner K.G., located at Franz-Josef-Straße 43 in Munich. Munich was an important commercial center within the West German photographic and optical trade during the mid-twentieth century. Companies such as Obergassner K.G. often operated as distributors or dealers supplying cameras, optical equipment, and photographic accessories. West Germany played a central role in the global photographic industry during this period, with major manufacturers such as Leica, Zeiss, Voigtländer, and Agfa contributing to the country's technological reputation.

Correspondence between a photographic magazine and a commercial distributor would have been entirely typical during this period. Photographic publications frequently requested information about new camera models, technical specifications, product catalogs, or demonstration equipment for review purposes. At the same time distributors and manufacturers often used magazines as advertising platforms and supplied them with promotional materials or sample equipment for editorial evaluation. The contents of this envelope therefore likely related to advertising arrangements, product information, or requests for technical material.

From a philatelic perspective the envelope bears two Swedish postage stamps. One of them carries the inscription "Mätta de hungrande," referring to a humanitarian theme associated with relief efforts addressing hunger and social welfare. The second stamp, valued at seventy öre, features stylized Scandinavian artistic motifs. Swedish postal authorities frequently issued stamps with cultural and social themes during the 1960s and 1970s.

A red label reading "Express-Utdelning / Express" appears on the envelope, indicating that the item was sent using express postal service. Express mail allowed faster delivery than standard postal handling and was commonly used for urgent commercial correspondence or documents requiring rapid transmission. For communication between a photographic publication and a distribution company, the timely exchange of catalogs, promotional materials, or technical documentation would have justified the use of such a service.

The postal cancellation shows that the envelope was processed within the Swedish postal system. Although the exact date is difficult to read, the stamps suggest that the item was mailed during the late 1960s or early 1970s. This period coincided with a significant expansion of photographic publishing and amateur photography across Europe.

From a collecting perspective this envelope represents an interesting intersection of photographic culture, publishing history, and postal communication. It illustrates the interaction between photographic magazines and equipment distributors, highlighting the role of media and publishing in promoting photographic technology. At the same time the envelope provides a philatelic example of Swedish express postal service and thematic stamp usage in international correspondence.

In conclusion, the envelope should be understood not only as a postal artifact but also as a small documentary trace of the broader cultural and commercial networks that supported the photographic industry in twentieth-century Europe. The correspondence between a Swedish photographic publication and a Munich-based equipment distributor reflects the interconnected system through which photographic technology, information, and promotion circulated across national borders.

Record Information

Title: Sweden – Foto Magazine Business Stationery to Germany

Category: Photographic Industry History / Publishing

Subcategory: International Correspondence / Express Mail

Country: Sweden (Sender) → West Germany (Recipient)

City: Fagersta (Sender) → Munich (Recipient)

Date of use: circa 1960s-1970s

Organization (Sender): Foto-Magasinet, Västmannavägen 5 A, Fagersta, Sweden. Likely a photographic magazine or publication serving amateur and professional photographers, with the slogan "Allt för foto och kino" (Everything for photography and cinema).

Company (Recipient): Obergassner K.G., Franz-Josef-Straße 43, Munich, West Germany. A distributor or dealer of photographic, cinema, and optical equipment in the West German market.

Object Type: International express mail envelope

Postal Features: Two Swedish stamps (humanitarian theme "Mätta de hungrande" and 70 öre with Scandinavian artistic motifs); red "Express-Utdelning / Express" label; Swedish postal cancellation (c. 1960s-1970s).

Language: Swedish (sender) / German (recipient address)

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Foto-Magasinet, Fagersta, Swedish photographic publishing, Obergassner KG, Munich, West German optical trade, 1960s-1970s international mail, express mail, Swedish humanitarian stamps, Scandinavian art stamps, photography magazines, media-industry relations.

Archival Significance: This 1960s-1970s express mail envelope documents the commercial link between a Swedish photographic publication and a West German equipment distributor, illustrating the role of media in the international circulation of photographic technology.

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.