Date of use : 1914, Germany
Otto Spitzer's 1914 Ferrotypia Camera Postcard
This card was prepared in 1914 by the Berlin-based company Otto Spitzer. It served both as an advertising tool and a postcard. Upon close examination, it is clear that the company was engaged in the production and sale of cameras and photographic equipment.
On the left side of the card, the company's quick-shooting camera called "Ferrotypia" is introduced. The slogan "A photo in 1 minute" is particularly striking and innovative, especially considering the technical conditions of the time. With this product, Otto Spitzer aimed not only at the general public with no technical knowledge, but also at professional dealers.
The promotional text highlights the following statements:
"Your photograph in 1 minute – ready immediately and take it with you!"
"No prior knowledge required! No darkroom needed!"
"As easy as a child's toy!"
Among the camera's technical features are an achromatic lens (which reduces chromatic aberration), a 25-exposure capacity without the need for reloading, and full equipment included. Offering all this for just 9 Marks clearly reflects the company's goal to make the product widely accessible.
The recipient of the card was the optical device manufacturer Victor Avril.
Record Information
Title: Otto Spitzer's 1914 Ferrotypia Camera Postcard
Category: Photographic Advertising History / Commercial Ephemera
Subcategory: Camera Manufacturing / Early 20th Century Marketing
Country: Germany (Domestic Mail)
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City: Berlin → Zabern (Saverne), Alsace
Date of use: 1914 (based on card design and period)
Company: Otto Spitzer, Berlin W.30 (Fabrik photographischer Apparate und Bedarfsformen)
Product: Ferrotypia Schnellphotographier-Kamera (quick-shooting camera)
Key Features: 1-minute photo, no darkroom needed, no prior knowledge required, 25 exposures without reloading, achromatic lens, complete equipment included, price: 9 Marks
Slogans: "Ihre Photographie in 1 Minute" (Your photograph in 1 minute), "Kinderleichte Handhabung!" (As easy as a child's toy!), "Tausende bereits im Gebrauch!" (Thousands already in use!)
Recipient: Victor Avril, optical device manufacturer, Zabern/Elsass (Saverne, Alsace)
Object Type: Advertising postcard / commercial correspondence
Postal Administration: German Reichspost
Postal Route 🚂: Berlin → Zabern (1914 German Railway Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 1-2 days (by rail)
Postal Features: German postage stamps, domestic postal markings
Language: German
Material: Printed card stock
Dimensions: Standard postcard format
Collection Theme: Early instant photography, German camera manufacturing, pre-WWI advertising, Ferrotypia process
Archival Significance: This 1914 advertising postcard from Otto Spitzer in Berlin documents a remarkable moment in the history of consumer photography: the promise of "Your photograph in 1 minute" decades before Polaroid. The Ferrotypia camera, priced at just 9 Marks and marketed with slogans emphasizing ease of use ("no prior knowledge required," "as easy as a child's toy"), represents an early attempt to make photography accessible to the mass market. The card's dual function as advertisement and postal communication, sent to optical manufacturer Victor Avril, illustrates the interconnected nature of the photographic industry. The technical specifications (achromatic lens, 25 exposures without reloading) and the bold marketing claims provide invaluable insight into how camera manufacturers positioned their products in the competitive pre-World War I German market. This item is a rare and important primary source for understanding the origins of instant photography and the democratization of image-making.
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.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
