Date of use : 1890 USA

Frank N. Blake Dry Plate Company History

Frank N. Blake Gelatino-Bromide Dry Plate Company operated in the town of North Adams, Massachusetts, as a partnership between Frank N. Blake and F. A. Tarble. The exact founding date of the company is unknown, but the earliest records date back to 1896–1897.

Frank N. Blake (full name Frank Noyes Blake, 1854–1947) was an engineer living in North Adams. His article titled "Photography at Sea," published in The Philadelphia Photographer in 1883, demonstrates his early interest in photography and his willingness to share knowledge in the field. Later, Blake ventured into photographic materials production in his own town and played a pioneering role in establishing the company. In his later years, he worked in municipal engineering and local government; between 1937 and 1940, he obtained secondary patents for devices related to water pipe detection.

Although there are no patent records specifically associated with Blake Dry Plate Company, the firm manufactured commercially using existing emulsion technologies. Its main product, gelatino-bromide dry plates, were negatives consisting of silver bromide (and sometimes other silver salts) crystals suspended in a gelatin binder on a glass surface. This method differed significantly from the traditional wet-collodion process. Dry plates could be prepared in advance and stored, eliminating the need for a darkroom and providing photographers with great convenience. Photographers could carry plates with them and shoot at any time, enjoying unprecedented freedom. These plates served as the photographic medium in both large- and small-format sheet cameras and were widely used for portrait, landscape, and documentary photography. According to a user from 1896, the plates produced by Blake Dry Plate Co. were "rapid and consistently reliable, producing excellent results every time."

The gelatino-bromide dry plate process was developed in the early 1870s by Richard Maddox and revolutionized photography. This innovation replaced the wet-collodion method, which was common between 1850 and 1880, with pre-prepared plates that could be stored for long periods. In the 1880s, entrepreneurs like George Eastman commercialized this technology, laying the foundation for modern photography. Established in 1881, the Eastman Dry Plate Company was one of the pioneers of this new era. Blake Dry Plate Company operated in the same technological context during this period.

Blake Dry Plate Company appears to have been a medium-sized manufacturing business. Its advertisements indicate that it sold not only dry plates but also photographic chemicals, films, and equipment—"all kinds of photographic supplies"—serving both amateur photographers and professional studios. Products were promoted through city directories and photography magazines, with a sales network extending across the Northeastern United States.

Publications from 1896 and the 1897 North Adams city directory confirm that the company was active during that time. The directory includes the following entry:

"F. N. Blake, F. A. Marble. Blake Dry Plate Company. Manufacturers of Gelatino-Bromide Dry Plates, and dealers in Photographic Supplies of Every Description."

However, by the early 1900s, the company no longer appears in directories, indicating that it likely ceased operations before the 1900s. Therefore, the commercial lifespan of Blake Dry Plate Company was probably limited to the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Today, although the name or brand of Blake Dry Plate Company no longer exists, the legacy of gelatino-bromide dry plate technology continues to influence modern photography. This technique formed the basis of 20th-century analog film and printing technologies, with silver-salt gelatin-based systems becoming a standard in photography. This small but innovative enterprise in North Adams remains a quiet yet important witness to the history of photography.

Record Information

Title: Frank N. Blake Dry Plate Company History

Category: Photographic Technology History / Manufacturing History

Subcategory: Dry Plate Manufacturing / American Photographic Industry

Country: United States

City: North Adams, Massachusetts

Date: Active c. 1890

Company: Frank N. Blake Gelatino-Bromide Dry Plate Company (Blake Dry Plate Company)

Founders: Frank Noyes Blake (1854-1947) and F. A. Tarble (also recorded as F. A. Marble)

Key Product: Gelatino-bromide dry plates (glass negatives)

Additional Products: Photographic chemicals, films, and equipment ("all kinds of photographic supplies")

Technological Context: Post-1871 dry plate revolution (following Richard Maddox's development of gelatin emulsion)

Object Type: Advertising card / trade card

Language: English

Material: Printed card stock

Dimensions: Standard trade card format

Collection Theme: Dry plate manufacturing history, American regional photographic industry, gelatino-bromide technology

Archival Significance: This item documents a small but significant American dry plate manufacturer operating in the 1890s. Frank N. Blake's company represents the wave of entrepreneurial ventures that commercialized gelatino-bromide technology following Richard Maddox's breakthrough. Operating in North Adams, Massachusetts, alongside contemporaries like Eastman in Rochester, Blake's firm supplied dry plates and photographic supplies to photographers in the Northeastern United States. The company's short lifespan (c.1896-1900) illustrates the competitive nature of the early photographic manufacturing industry. Frank Noyes Blake's multifaceted career—photographer, engineer, municipal official, and inventor—exemplifies the diverse backgrounds of individuals who contributed to photography's technological development. This item is a valuable primary source for understanding the regional diffusion of dry plate technology and the commercial infrastructure that supported American photography in the late 19th century.

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 : 1944, Italy

Giusto Faravelli: Photographic Chemicals from Milan

The Giusto Faravelli company was founded in 1926 by Giusto Faravelli and specialized primarily in photographic chemicals. A close examination of the card reveals that the firm was not limited to a narrow field of production; rather, it supplied specialized chemicals for a wide range of image production and printing technologies, including photography, cinematography, zincography, rotogravure, cyanography, and galvanoplasty. This indicates that the company occupied an important position as a supplier serving diverse technical processes within the industrial and visual production sectors of the period.

The date of the document is clearly indicated on the reverse as “Milano, 6 Maggio 1944.” This places it in the final phase of the Second World War, a period during which production and supply chains in Italy were under considerable strain. The content of the card directly reflects these conditions, stating explicitly that the requested products were unavailable and that stocks had been depleted. In this context, the translation of the message on the reverse reads as follows:

✉️ Correspondence (translated from Italian):

“Milano, 6 May 1944

Brunner & C.

Via 27 Maggio No. 20

Como

Dear Sirs,

With reference to your inquiry,

We regret to inform you that the products you requested are currently not available in our stock.

Yours faithfully.”

---

The text represents a brief and formal commercial response. The expression “A pregiata Vs/2 corr.” is an abbreviated formula commonly used in Italian business correspondence of the period, meaning “in reply to your esteemed letter.”

In conclusion, this card constitutes a concrete historical record illustrating the close relationship between the chemical trade and photographic and printing technologies in the 1940s. Founded in 1926, the Giusto Faravelli company functioned as a key supplier across multiple industries; however, this document also clearly demonstrates how the challenging conditions of the time disrupted these commercial networks. As such, the card should be understood not merely as a piece of business correspondence, but as a multi-layered archival document reflecting the broader economic and industrial realities of its era.

Record Information

Title: Giusto Faravelli: Photographic Chemicals from Milan

Category: Photographic Industry History / Chemical Supply

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Wartime Supply Chains

Country: Italy → Italy

City: Milan → Como

Date of use: 6 May 1944

Company (Sender): Giusto Faravelli, Milan, Italy. A chemical supply firm founded in 1926, specializing in photographic chemicals and materials for photography, cinematography, zincography, rotogravure, cyanography, and galvanoplasty.

Company (Recipient): Brunner & C., Via 27 Maggio No. 20, Como, Italy.

Object Type: Domestic commercial correspondence card (used)

Postal Features: Italian postal system; wartime postal service (1944); domestic postal rate.

Language: Italian

Material: Paper card with printed letterhead

Dimensions: Standard card format

Collection Theme: Giusto Faravelli, Milan chemical industry, photographic chemicals, Italian wartime commerce, Brunner & C., Como, supply chain disruptions, Second World War, 1944 Italy, industrial production, photographic materials.

Archival Significance: This 1944 wartime business correspondence documents the supply chain disruptions faced by the Italian photographic chemical industry during the final phase of the Second World War, illustrating how commercial networks were strained under wartime conditions.

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 : 1981, Belgium

Difo Photographic Lab Business Stationery – Belgium

This envelope represents a commercial postal item associated with a photographic supply company operating in Belgium. The printed graphic and address information in the lower left section identify the sender as DIFO N.V., with a business address at Gentsweg 344 in the town of Beveren. The presence of a telephone number and a stylized company logo further indicates that the envelope formed part of the firm's official business correspondence. The illustration printed on the envelope depicts a delivery truck carrying a photographic camera, a visual element that symbolically suggests activities related to the distribution or transport of photographic equipment and materials.

Available information about DIFO N.V. itself is limited, yet the abbreviation "N.V." indicates the legal structure known as Naamloze Vennootschap, a form of public limited company commonly used in Belgium and the Netherlands. This designation implies that the firm operated as an incorporated commercial enterprise. Given the visual identity and context of the envelope, the company most likely participated in the trade or distribution of photographic equipment, film, or related technical materials. During the second half of the twentieth century the market for photographic products expanded significantly in Belgium, particularly as amateur photography became increasingly widespread. The growing demand for cameras, film, and laboratory supplies created opportunities for regional distributors and specialized retailers.

The address of the recipient would normally appear within the window section on the right side of the envelope, yet in the present state this area is empty. It is therefore possible that the envelope originally contained an internal document or address slip that has since been removed. As a result, the identity and professional role of the recipient cannot be determined directly from the surviving object. However, the presence of registered mail markings suggests that the envelope probably contained commercial documents such as invoices, orders, or other formal business correspondence.

The postal markings and stamps visible on the envelope belong to the Belgian postal administration. The stamps depict a portrait of the Belgian monarch, a motif that appeared on standard definitive postage stamps used for many years in Belgium. A red rectangular registered mail label is also present, indicating that the item was processed through the registered mail service. The label identifies the post office of Wuustwezel as the place where the item entered the postal system. Registered mail services were typically used to ensure the secure delivery of valuable documents or important business correspondence. Such items were assigned tracking numbers and required the recipient's signature upon delivery.

The cancellation marks suggest that the envelope circulated during the late twentieth century, a period when European postal systems had developed highly efficient logistical infrastructures. Registered mail services were widely used by businesses engaged in regular commercial communication. The multiple stamps affixed to the envelope indicate the payment of a specific postal rate corresponding either to the weight of the item or to the additional service of registration.

Record Information

Title: Difo Photographic Lab Business Stationery – Belgium

Category: Photographic Industry History / Distribution Trade

Subcategory: Commercial Correspondence / Late 20th Century Business Networks

Country: Belgium → Belgium

City: Beveren → [Recipient unknown – address window empty]

Date of use: 1981

Company (Sender): DIFO N.V. (Naamloze Vennootschap), Gentsweg 344, Beveren, Belgium. A photographic equipment and materials distributor operating in Belgium, likely engaged in the trade of cameras, film, and photographic supplies during the expansion of amateur photography in the late twentieth century.

Object Type: Domestic registered commercial envelope (window envelope)

Postal Features: Belgian definitive stamps (portrait of Belgian monarch); Wuustwezel post office registered mail label; postal cancellation marks; registered mail service with signature confirmation.

Language: Dutch (Flemish), French

Material: Paper envelope with printed graphic design (delivery truck with camera illustration)

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: DIFO N.V., Beveren photographic trade, Belgian photographic distribution, Wuustwezel postal history, registered mail, 1980s business correspondence, photographic supply industry, window envelopes, corporate branding.

Archival Significance: This 1981 registered envelope documents the operations of a Belgian photographic distributor, illustrating the role of specialized supply firms and registered postal services in supporting the photographic industry during the late twentieth century.

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

Foto Engel Photographic Lab and Shop Stationery

This envelope represents a commercial postal item sent from a photographic retail business in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, to a recipient in Strasbourg, France. The printed letterhead on the left side identifies the sender as Foto Engel, located at Eisenbahnstraße 31 in Freiburg. The inscription "Foto – Kino – Projektion" indicates that the business operated in the fields of photographic equipment, cinema technology, and projection systems. Enterprises of this type were common in European cities during the mid-twentieth century and functioned as important distribution points within the expanding market for visual technologies.

The precise founding date of the Foto Engel business cannot be determined solely from this envelope; however, the commercial terminology used in the letterhead suggests that the firm likely formed part of the photographic retail sector that expanded rapidly in Germany after the Second World War. During the post-war decades amateur photography became increasingly widespread, creating strong demand for cameras, photographic film, and related technical equipment. Photographic retailers often provided not only sales of cameras and accessories but also film processing, printing services, and projection equipment. The combination of photography, cinema, and projection services in the company's description suggests that the business offered a relatively broad range of visual technology products rather than functioning as a simple photographic shop.

The recipient named on the envelope is Georges Lautemann, whose address is listed in the Neudorf district of Strasbourg at 14 Rue de la Musau. The profession of Lautemann cannot be determined directly from the surviving envelope; however, the fact that the letter originated from a photographic equipment retailer suggests that the recipient may have been involved in photography either professionally or as an enthusiast. Strasbourg occupies a strategic position near the Franco-German border and has historically been a location characterized by close economic and cultural interactions between the two countries. Correspondence between a photographic retailer in Freiburg and a resident of Strasbourg therefore represents a typical example of cross-border commercial communication within the European market.

The postage stamp and cancellation marks belong to the postal system of the Federal Republic of Germany. The stamp bears the inscription Deutsche Bundespost, which identifies it as part of the standard postal issues used in West Germany during the post-war period. The cancellation mark indicates that the letter was processed through the Freiburg postal facility. In addition, the printed phrase "Bestimmungsort deutlich schreiben," which translates as "write the destination clearly," reflects a standard postal instruction intended to ensure the efficient handling of mail.

The physical structure of the envelope also reflects typical commercial mailing practices of the mid-twentieth century. The envelope includes a window section through which the recipient's address, printed or typed on the internal letter, becomes visible. Window envelopes were widely used by businesses because they simplified the preparation of outgoing mail and allowed companies to send invoices, notices, or other routine correspondence more efficiently.

Record Information

Title: Foto Engel Business Envelope (Freiburg to Strasbourg)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: West German Photographic Retailers / Franco-German Trade

Country: Germany (Sender: Freiburg) → France (Recipient: Strasbourg)

City: Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg (Sender: Foto Engel) → Strasbourg, France (Recipient: Georges Lautemann)

Date of use: 1952

Company (Sender): Foto Engel, Eisenbahnstraße 31, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. A photographic retail business specializing in photography, cinema equipment, and projection technology (Foto – Kino – Projektion).

Object Type: Commercial envelope (window envelope)

Postal Features: West German "Deutsche Bundespost" postage stamp; Freiburg postal cancellation (1952); "Bestimmungsort deutlich schreiben" postal instruction.

Language: German / French (recipient address)

Material: Paper envelope (window)

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Foto Engel, Freiburg commerce, West German photographic retail, Eisenbahnstraße, cinema equipment, projection technology, Georges Lautemann, Strasbourg Neudorf, Franco-German trade, window envelopes, Deutsche Bundespost, 1950s postal history.

Archival Significance: This 1952 envelope documents cross-border commercial correspondence between a West German photographic equipment retailer (Foto Engel in Freiburg) and a recipient in Strasbourg, France, illustrating the post-war revival of Franco-German trade in photographic and cinema 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.

Date of use : 1920s-1930s, USA

Kodak Film Sales at Baker Post Office, California

This postcard depicts the post office building in the settlement of Baker, located in the state of California in the United States. The caption printed at the bottom of the image reads "Post Office, Baker, Calif." while a mark in the lower right corner identifies the photograph as a product of Frasher Fotos, Pomona, California. Photographic postcards of this type were widely produced in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century and served as visual documents of small towns, commercial buildings, and everyday life across the American landscape.

The name Frasher Fotos refers to a photographic enterprise operated by photographer Fred Frasher and his family, who were active in the American West during the early and mid-twentieth century. The Frasher studio specialized in photographing towns, highways, and tourist locations throughout California and Nevada, publishing these images in postcard format. Based in Pomona, the business became one of the producers of postcards associated with the growing automobile tourism culture of the western United States. The photographs created by Frasher Fotos therefore function not only as souvenirs but also as visual records documenting regional architecture and local commercial environments.

The building shown in the image represents the post office of Baker, a small settlement located within the Mojave Desert region. Baker developed as a stopover point along transportation routes connecting southern California with desert regions and neighboring states. During the early twentieth century such desert settlements frequently emerged around railway lines or highway junctions and served travelers passing through remote areas. In these communities the post office often functioned not only as a postal facility but also as an important center for local communication and commerce.

Several inscriptions visible on the exterior wall of the building illustrate the multifunctional role of the establishment. The words "Drug Sundries," "Post Cards & Notions," and "Kodak Films" indicate that the premises also served as a retail point for various goods. This reflects a common commercial model in small American towns, where postal services were frequently integrated with general stores or local supply shops. Such establishments could simultaneously provide postal services while selling everyday items, postcards, and photographic materials.

One particularly notable detail is the explicit reference to Kodak film. During the early twentieth century the Kodak company played a major role in expanding amateur photography by distributing film and cameras through a wide network of retailers. Small-town post offices and general stores often participated in this distribution network. The presence of a "Kodak Films" sign on the building therefore illustrates how photographic technology had become integrated into everyday commercial life in remote communities.

The photographic composition of the postcard reflects the visual conventions of commercial postcard photography during the period. The building is photographed from a slightly angled frontal perspective, allowing both the architecture and the commercial signage to remain clearly visible. The high-contrast black-and-white image and carefully controlled lighting reflect the documentary aesthetic commonly used in postcard production. Such images were intended both as souvenirs for travelers and as visual messages sent through the postal system.

From a collecting perspective, this postcard can be associated with several thematic categories. It represents an example relevant to collections focusing on the postal history and architecture of local post offices in the United States. At the same time, it belongs to the broader tradition of photographic postcards documenting regional landscapes and communities. The explicit reference to Kodak film sales also makes the image significant for collections related to the commercial distribution of photographic technology.

Record Information

Title: Baker Post Office Photographic Postcard (California)

Category: Postal Architecture / Commercial Photography

Subcategory: American Small-Town Commerce / Kodak Film Distribution

Country: USA (Subject: Baker, CA) → (Postcard Circulation)

City: Baker, California (Subject) → [Postcard Destination]

Date of use: 1920s-1930s

Photographer / Publisher: Frasher Fotos, Pomona, California. A photographic studio operated by Fred Frasher and family, specializing in postcard views of towns, highways, and tourist locations in California and Nevada.

Object Type: Photographic postcard (commercial view)

Postal Features: [Postcard was intended for postal circulation; specific postal markings not detailed in image]

Language: English

Material: Paper (postcard stock)

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: Baker California, Mojave Desert, post office architecture, Frasher Fotos, Kodak film sales, small-town commerce, drug sundries, postcards, automobile tourism, American West photography, 1920s-30s California history.

Archival Significance: This postcard documents the Baker, California post office building, which also served as a retail outlet for Kodak film, illustrating the integration of photographic materials into small-town American commerce and the role of postal facilities as community hubs in early twentieth-century desert settlements.

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 : 1920, France

Victor Sommer Photographic Materials Dealer

This postcard represents a commercial correspondence sent from a business operating in the city of Colmar in the Alsace region of France. The printed letterhead on the front identifies the sender as Victor Sommer, whose business is described as "Droguerie, couleurs et vernis – Articles photographiques." This designation indicates that the enterprise dealt in chemical goods, paints, and varnishes, while also supplying photographic materials. Businesses of this type played an important role in the photographic supply networks of the early twentieth century.

Although detailed archival information about Victor Sommer remains limited, the description printed on the card clearly indicates that the business operated as a droguerie, a type of shop traditionally selling chemical and technical products. In late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe such establishments frequently sold not only household chemicals but also photographic materials and darkroom supplies. Since early photographic processes relied heavily on chemical compounds such as silver salts, developers, and fixing agents, these stores served as important suppliers for photographers.

The recipient of the postcard is Mme. Emilie Müller, whose address is listed in the town of Barr, also located in the Alsace region. The handwritten message on the card constitutes a commercial price notification. The text indicates that a company had recently provided the sender with goods and that the sender was transmitting price information for a quantity measured in kilograms. The mention of a price per kilogram and an additional percentage increase suggests that the correspondence relates to a commercial quotation, possibly concerning photographic chemicals or other technical materials.

The card is dated 19 November 1920, according to the handwritten notation at the top of the message. This date corresponds to a significant period in the history of the Alsace region. From 1871 until 1918 Alsace had been incorporated into the German Empire, but following the First World War it was returned to France. The year 1920 therefore represents an early phase of reintegration into the French administrative and economic system. A commercial postcard sent from Colmar to Barr thus illustrates the continuation and reconstruction of regional commercial networks during the immediate post-war period.

The postage stamps affixed to the card belong to the well-known Semeuse series issued by the French Republic, with a denomination of ten centimes. This design was one of the most widely used definitive stamp types in France during the early twentieth century. The cancellation mark indicates processing through the Colmar postal system. The use of a postcard format for this correspondence reflects a common practice in business communication during the period, as postcards provided a fast and economical method for transmitting short commercial messages.

From a collecting perspective, this document can be associated with several thematic categories. It represents an example of commercial correspondence related to the trade of photographic materials and chemicals. It also reflects the economic and commercial history of the Alsace region during the early twentieth century. Additionally, the item is relevant for collections focusing on French postal history and the use of postcards for business communication.

📜✍️ REVERSE SIDE - HANDWRITTEN MESSAGE (TRANSCRIPTION & TRANSLATION) French → English

📝 Original French text (handwritten):

"Colmar, le 19 novembre 1920

Madame,

La maison S. & Cie vient de me livrer une certaine quantité de marchandises. Vous trouverez ci-dessous le prix au kilogramme :
Frs. 12.50 le kg, plus 5% pour frais d'emballage.

Si vous désirez passer commande, veuillez me le faire savoir.

Recevez, Madame, mes salutations distinguées.
Victor Sommer"

📖 English translation:

"Colmar, 19 November 1920

Madam,

The firm S. & Co. has just delivered to me a certain quantity of goods. Below you will find the price per kilogram:

12.50 Francs per kg, plus 5% for packaging costs.

If you wish to place an order, please let me know.

Please accept, Madam, my distinguished greetings.

Victor Sommer"

🧪 Context: This commercial postcard documents a price notification for goods (likely photographic chemicals) sold by the kilogram. The 5% packaging fee and the reference to a supplier "S. & Co." illustrate early 20th-century wholesale trade practices in Alsace following its return to France after WWI.

Record Information

Title: Victor Sommer Business Postcard (Colmar to Barr)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Alsatian Chemical & Photographic Trade / Post-War Commerce

Country: France (Sender: Colmar → Recipient: Barr) 🗺️ Show Route

City: Colmar, Alsace (Sender: Victor Sommer) → Barr, Alsace (Recipient: Mme. Emilie Müller)

Date of use: 19 November 1920

Company (Sender): Victor Sommer, Droguerie, couleurs et vernis – Articles photographiques, Colmar, Alsace, France. A chemical and photographic supply dealer active in the early 20th century, operating during the post-WWI reintegration of Alsace into France.

Object Type: Commercial postcard (business correspondence)

Postal Route 🚂📮 (Estimated Route): Colmar, Alsace → Barr, Alsace (19 November 1920)

Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 1 day (local railway)

Postal Features: French Semeuse 10-centime postage stamp; Colmar postal cancellation (19 November 1920).

Language: French

Material: Paper (postcard stock)

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: Victor Sommer, Colmar commerce, Alsatian photographic trade, droguerie, photographic chemicals, post-WWI Alsace, regional commerce, Semeuse stamps, 1920s French postal history, Barr Alsace.

Archival Significance: This 1920 postcard documents commercial correspondence between an Alsatian chemical and photographic dealer (Victor Sommer in Colmar) and a regional client, illustrating the reconstruction of regional trade networks in Alsace following its return to France after World War I.

🚂📮 Postal Route: Colmar → Barr (19 November 1920) (Estimated Route)

🧪 Victor Sommer (Colmar) 🇫🇷 → 🚂 Railway (Colmar-Strasbourg line) → 📬 Mme. Emilie Müller (Barr) 🇫🇷

📮 Commercial price notification → 🚂 Local Alsatian railway network → 📬 Barr, Alsace
Photographic chemicals | 12.50 Francs per kg + 5% packaging | Post-WWI Alsace reintegration | Estimated travel time: 1 day

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 : 1934, Germany

Postcard Sent to Fotohaus Reich

During the 1930s the European photographic industry experienced not only technological development but also the expansion of international commercial networks. Commercial postcards and postal correspondence from this period represent valuable historical sources for understanding the distribution and trade structures of photographic equipment. This postcard, sent from Munich and addressed to a photographic business in Bolzano, represents a small yet meaningful example of photographic trade between Germany and northern Italy.

The recipient of the card appears to be Foto Haus Resch – Ottico, a photographic and optical shop operating in the city of Bolzano. Bolzano (Bozen), located in the South Tyrol region, historically functioned as a commercial center where German and Italian cultural influences intersected. During the first half of the twentieth century the city hosted numerous specialized shops selling photographic materials and optical products. The term "Ottico" suggests that the business dealt not only in photographic supplies but also in optical goods such as eyeglasses and small optical instruments.

The sender of the card is identified as G. Schwarz, residing in Munich. The Munich address indicates that the correspondence originated from one of Germany's major commercial and industrial centers. Since the late nineteenth century Munich had developed into an important hub for the photographic and optical industries. Several camera manufacturers, optical companies, and photographic supply firms were based there, creating extensive trade networks through which photographic equipment was distributed across Europe.

The upper section of the card contains the phrase "Luftschutz ist nationale Pflicht – Werdet Mitglied im Reichsluftschutzbund," a propaganda slogan encouraging citizens to join the German civil air defense organization. This slogan reflects the political and social climate of Germany during the 1930s and illustrates how propaganda messages were incorporated into everyday postal stationery. As a result, the card represents not only commercial correspondence but also a typical example of postal propaganda from the period.

From a philatelic perspective the card bears a 15 Pfennig Hindenburg issue stamp and a Munich postal cancellation, indicating its circulation within the German postal system during the mid-1930s. The Hindenburg series was widely used throughout Germany during this decade and represents a characteristic example of the postal design of the era.

The handwritten message on the reverse side appears to contain commercial information related to various goods, including references to clothing items, quality assessments, and pricing details. The text suggests that the sender was involved in the exchange of different types of merchandise, indicating the existence of small-scale commercial networks that extended beyond the photographic sector itself. Such correspondence illustrates the practical realities of everyday trade during the interwar period.

From a collecting perspective the postcard may be classified within several thematic categories, including photographic trade history, optical retailers, German–Italian commercial relations, and propaganda postal stationery. The coexistence of a propaganda slogan and a private commercial message on the same card makes it particularly interesting from both postal and cultural historical perspectives.

In conclusion, this postcard represents a modest yet valuable document illustrating the international commercial connections of the photographic and optical trade in 1930s Europe. The correspondence between Munich and Bolzano reflects the cross-border circulation of photographic and optical goods while simultaneously revealing how the political atmosphere of the period was reflected in everyday postal materials. As such, the document should be considered not merely a philatelic object but also a small archival witness to the commercial and cultural networks of its time.

Record Information

Title: G. Schwarz Business Postcard (Munich to Bolzano)

Category: Photographic & Optical Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: German-Italian Trade / Propaganda Postal Stationery

Country: Germany (Sender: Munich) → Italy (Recipient: Bolzano)

City: Munich, Bavaria (Sender: G. Schwarz) → Bolzano (Bozen), South Tyrol (Recipient: Foto Haus Resch – Ottico)

Date of use: 1934

Company (Recipient): Foto Haus Resch – Ottico, Bolzano (Bozen), Italy. A photographic and optical shop serving the South Tyrol region, dealing in photographic supplies and optical goods.

Object Type: Commercial postcard (business correspondence with propaganda slogan)

Postal Features: German 15-pfennig Hindenburg postage stamp; Munich postal cancellation (1934); printed propaganda slogan "Luftschutz ist nationale Pflicht – Werdet Mitglied im Reichsluftschutzbund."

Language: German

Material: Paper (postcard stock)

Dimensions: Standard postcard format

Collection Theme: G. Schwarz, Munich commerce, Foto Haus Resch, Bolzano photography, South Tyrol optical trade, German-Italian trade, Reichsluftschutzbund, propaganda slogans, Hindenburg stamps, 1930s German postal history, cross-border commerce.

Archival Significance: This 1934 postcard documents commercial correspondence between Munich and Bolzano, illustrating cross-border trade in photographic and optical goods, and features a Reichsluftschutzbund propaganda slogan, reflecting the integration of political messaging into everyday postal communication in Nazi Germany.

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 : 1935, Czechoslovakia

Fotochema Photographic Materials Producer

Fotochema was established in 1921 and operated in the production and distribution of chemical materials used in photographic processes. During the period when photographic technology relied on analog chemical methods, photographic papers, developing chemicals, fixing agents, and various laboratory materials were essential supplies for both professional photographic studios and amateur photographers. In Central Europe, during the early twentieth century, the manufacture of such products gradually became institutionalized and developed into a significant sub-sector of the chemical industry. Companies such as Fotochema supplied the domestic market while also maintaining commercial relationships with photographers and photographic businesses in neighboring countries.

The envelope addressed to the Vienna-based photographic dealer Alois Bäuerl provides evidence of this cross-border commercial network. The firm Fotochema, based in Prague, maintained regular correspondence with photographic supply businesses operating in Austria. This commercial communication reflects the structure of the photographic industry in Central Europe during the interwar period, in which chemical manufacturers and photographic supply firms in one country supplied materials to photographic dealers in neighboring states. The postal cancellation and stamps confirm that the envelope circulated through the Czechoslovak postal system.

Record Information

Title: Fotochema Business Envelope (Prague to Vienna)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Czechoslovak Chemical Manufacturers / Cross-Border Trade

Country: Czechoslovakia (Sender: Prague) → Austria (Recipient: Vienna)

City: Prague (Sender: Fotochema) → Vienna, Austria (Recipient: Alois Bäuerl)

Date of use: 1935

Company (Sender): Fotochema, Prague, Czechoslovakia. A photographic materials manufacturer established in 1921, producing chemical products for photographic processes, including developing chemicals, fixing agents, and photographic papers.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (business correspondence)

Postal Features: Czechoslovak postage stamps; Prague postal cancellation (1935).

Language: Czech / German (recipient address)

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Fotochema, Prague photographic industry, Czechoslovak chemical manufacturing, Alois Bäuerl, Vienna photographic trade, cross-border commerce, interwar Central Europe, 1930s postal history, photographic supply networks.

Archival Significance: This 1935 envelope documents commercial correspondence between the Czechoslovak photographic materials manufacturer Fotochema and a Viennese photographic dealer, illustrating the cross-border trade networks that supplied photographic chemicals and supplies in interwar Central Europe.

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 : 1900, France

Photo-Hall: Major Photographic Warehouse in France

This envelope represents an interesting example of commercial ephemera documenting the trade in photographic equipment and business correspondence networks in early twentieth-century France. The upper section of the envelope bears the printed inscription "PHOTO-HALL PARIS," clearly indicating that the sender was a commercial establishment connected with the photographic industry. The envelope also carries the marking "Papiers d'Affaires," a designation used within the French postal system to identify business correspondence. Such markings were commonly applied to envelopes used for official or commercial documentation sent by companies.

The designation "Photo-Hall" reflects a commercial naming practice frequently used by businesses involved in the sale of photographic equipment and materials during the early twentieth century. These establishments typically functioned as retail centers where photographic cameras, lenses, glass negative plates, printing papers, and chemical processing materials were sold. In many cases, Photo-Hall businesses also provided technical assistance and photographic services to both amateur and professional photographers.

The envelope is addressed to Monsieur Ed. Moudeau, with the location written as Caudebec-en-Caux. This town is situated in the Normandy region of France along the Seine River. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Caudebec-en-Caux was known as a regional commercial center connected to river transport and local trade networks. The profession of the recipient is not indicated on the envelope. However, considering that the sender appears to have been a photographic supply business, it is possible that the correspondence concerned photographic materials, catalogues, or commercial orders. While this interpretation cannot be confirmed with certainty, it corresponds with typical patterns of commercial communication within the photographic industry at the time.

Record Information

Title: Photo-Hall Paris Business Envelope (Paris to Caudebec-en-Caux)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: French Photographic Warehouses / Regional Distribution

Country: France (Sender: Paris) → France (Recipient: Caudebec-en-Caux)

City: Paris (Sender: Photo-Hall) → Caudebec-en-Caux, Normandy (Recipient: Ed. Moudeau)

Date of use: c. 1900

Company (Sender): Photo-Hall, Paris, France. A photographic equipment warehouse and retailer active around 1900, supplying cameras, lenses, glass plates, printing papers, and chemical materials to photographers and dealers.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (Papiers d'Affaires business correspondence)

Postal Features: French postage stamp; Paris postal cancellation (c. 1900); "Papiers d'Affaires" business mail classification marking.

Language: French

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Photo-Hall, Paris photographic trade, French photographic warehouses, Caudebec-en-Caux, Normandy commerce, Papiers d'Affaires, business mail, 1900s French postal history, regional photographic distribution.

Archival Significance: This c. 1900 envelope documents a Paris-based photographic warehouse (Photo-Hall) engaged in commercial correspondence with a recipient in Normandy, illustrating the regional distribution networks of the French photographic supply industry at the turn of the twentieth century.

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.