Date of use : 1941, Germany

Agfa Photographic Materials Manufacturer

This envelope represents an important example of commercial postal correspondence reflecting the institutional structure of the German photographic and chemical industries during the mid-twentieth century. The printed heading in the lower left corner identifies the sender as I.G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft – Agfa, Berlin SO 36. This indicates that the envelope was sent by Agfa (Aktien-Gesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation), a company operating within the industrial conglomerate I.G. Farben. Agfa was internationally recognized for the production of photographic films, photographic papers, and chemical materials used in photography.

I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was established in 1925 through the merger of several major German chemical companies. Firms such as BASF, Bayer, Hoechst, and Agfa became part of this large industrial consortium, which soon developed into one of the largest chemical production networks in the world during the first half of the twentieth century. The group was active not only in dyes and chemical manufacturing but also played a significant role in the development of photographic technology. Under the Agfa brand, the company produced photographic films, papers, and later color photographic systems that became influential in the European photographic industry.

The postal cancellation visible on the envelope reads "Berlin SO 36 – 14.11.41." This indicates that the item was mailed on 14 November 1941 from the southeastern postal district of Berlin. The date places the document within the context of the Second World War. During this period German industrial companies attempted to maintain both civilian and military production. Firms such as Agfa continued to manufacture photographic and optical materials that were used not only for civilian photography but also for scientific documentation, military reconnaissance, and propaganda purposes.

Next to the cancellation mark appears a red advertising slogan reading "Filmen Sie farbig mit Agfacolor-Schmalfilm," which translates as "Film in color with Agfacolor narrow film." Advertising slogans incorporated into postal markings were relatively common in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. The Agfacolor system, developed in the late 1930s, represented an important innovation in color photography and was used particularly in amateur cinematography and motion picture production.

Record Information

Title: I.G. Farben / Agfa Business Envelope (Berlin)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: German Chemical Industry / Postal Advertising

Country: Germany (Sender: Berlin) → Germany (Recipient)

City: Berlin (Sender: I.G. Farben / Agfa) → [Domestic Recipient]

Date of use: 14 November 1941

Company (Sender): I.G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft – Agfa, Berlin SO 36, Germany. Agfa (Aktien-Gesellschaft für Anilinfabrikation) was a major manufacturer of photographic films, papers, and chemical materials, operating within the I.G. Farben industrial conglomerate.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (business correspondence with advertising slogan cancellation)

Postal Features: German "Deutsches Reich" postage stamp; Berlin SO 36 postal cancellation (14 November 1941); red advertising slogan "Filmen Sie farbig mit Agfacolor-Schmalfilm" (Film in color with Agfacolor narrow film).

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: I.G. Farben, Agfa, Berlin photographic industry, German chemical conglomerates, Agfacolor, color film advertising, postal advertising slogans, wartime postal history, 1940s German postal system.

Archival Significance: This 1941 envelope documents correspondence from Agfa within the I.G. Farben conglomerate, featuring a red postal advertising slogan promoting Agfacolor color film, illustrating the marketing strategies of the German photographic industry during World War II.

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 : 1952, Germany

Erich Hausgen Photographic Equipment Maker

This commercial envelope represents a notable piece of ephemera documenting the everyday operations of photographic equipment trade in mid-twentieth-century Germany. The printed letterhead located on the lower left side of the envelope identifies the sender as a business operated under the name "Erich Häusgen" in the city of Düsseldorf. The inscription "Büro und Lager: Berger-Ufer 3" indicates the address of the company's office and storage facility, suggesting that the premises functioned both as an administrative center and as a distribution point for photographic equipment. The presence of "Fernsprecher Nr. 13931" further indicates that the business maintained a telephone connection, reflecting the growing integration of modern communication technologies into commercial practice during this period.

The visual elements printed on the envelope provide additional clues regarding the company's activities. The illustration depicts a photographer operating a camera mounted on a tripod, accompanied by what appears to be a large equipment case or transport box. Such imagery strongly suggests that the firm was involved in the sale or distribution of photographic equipment, accessories, or portable photographic systems. During the mid-twentieth century Düsseldorf was an important industrial and commercial center in western Germany, and numerous small and medium-sized distributors operated there within the photographic supply trade.

The recipient address on the envelope indicates that the item was sent to Berlin-Friedrichsfelde. The addressee is identified as "Willi Thom" with the notation "p.A. Gärtner Thom," which may indicate that the correspondence was directed to a family-run business or a small commercial establishment operating under that name. In Germany during the first half of the twentieth century the photographic equipment trade relied not only on large manufacturers but also on a wide network of regional distributors and small retailers who supplied cameras, photographic plates, film materials, and darkroom equipment to local photographers.

The postal cancellation visible on the envelope indicates the date 26 March 1952. The stamps used bear the inscription "Deutsche Bundespost," identifying them as issues from the postal system of the Federal Republic of Germany established after the Second World War. The early 1950s marked a period of economic recovery and industrial reconstruction in West Germany. During this time the photographic and optical industries gradually reestablished their commercial networks and expanded their distribution systems.

From a philatelic perspective the envelope represents a typical example of early Federal German commercial correspondence. The clearly legible postal cancellation and the combined use of stamps of different denominations reflect standard postal tariff practices of the period. Additionally, the graphic design elements included in the letterhead demonstrate how commercial envelopes functioned not only as carriers of correspondence but also as promotional tools for businesses.

From a collecting perspective the document may be included in several thematic categories. It is particularly relevant for collections focusing on photographic industry ephemera, German postal history, and commercial letterhead envelopes. The illustrated photographic equipment motif further enhances the visual and documentary value of the item, situating it within the broader history of photographic commerce.

Record Information

Title: Erich Hausgen Business Envelope (Düsseldorf to Berlin)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: West German Photographic Distributors / Post-War Trade Networks

Country: Germany (Sender: Düsseldorf) → Germany (Recipient: Berlin)

City: Düsseldorf (Sender: Erich Hausgen) → Berlin-Friedrichsfelde (Recipient: Willi Thom)

Date of use: 26 March 1952

Company (Sender): Erich Hausgen, Berger-Ufer 3, Düsseldorf, Germany. A photographic equipment maker and distributor active in post-war West Germany.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (business correspondence with illustrated letterhead)

Postal Features: West German "Deutsche Bundespost" postage stamps; Düsseldorf postal cancellation (26 March 1952).

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Erich Hausgen, Düsseldorf photography trade, Berger-Ufer, West German photographic industry, Berlin-Friedrichsfelde, Willi Thom, Deutsche Bundespost, 1950s postal history, post-war commercial networks, photographic equipment distributors.

Archival Significance: This 1952 envelope documents commercial correspondence between a Düsseldorf photographic equipment maker and a Berlin recipient, illustrating the reestablishment of photographic trade networks in West Germany during the post-war economic recovery 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.