Date of use : 1948, Germany

Ewald Behrend – Photographic Materials Dealer

This envelope represents an important example of commercial postal communication reflecting the reconstruction of trade and postal networks in Germany after the Second World War. The sender identified on the envelope is Ewald Behrend Foto–Kino Fachhandlung, a photographic and cinema equipment retailer operating in Berlin. The printed heading on the envelope indicates that the business was not limited to retail sales but also engaged in manufacturing and wholesale distribution. The expressions "Detail – Fabrikation – Engros" suggest that the company served both individual customers and broader commercial distribution networks. The business address is given as Zossener Strasse 40 in the Berlin SW 29 district, an area historically associated with commercial activity in the city.

The recipient named on the envelope is Max Hackner, described as a "Lichtbildner," a German term historically used to denote a photographer or photographic professional. This designation indicates that the recipient was likely operating a photographic studio or working professionally within the photographic field. The address places the recipient in the town of Dachau in Bavaria, located near Munich. As a regional center with commercial connections to southern Germany, Dachau provided a suitable environment for professional photographic activity. The correspondence therefore reflects a commercial relationship between a photographic equipment supplier in Berlin and a professional photographer operating in Bavaria, illustrating the re-establishment of photographic supply networks in postwar Germany.

One of the most striking features of the envelope is the large number of postage stamps attached to its surface. The stamps bear the inscription "Deutsche Post" and belong to early issues used during the period when the German postal system was reorganized after the war. The use of stamps of various denominations indicates that the required postal fee was assembled through the combined use of multiple small-value stamps. Such practices were relatively common in the immediate postwar period due to currency reforms, shortages of certain stamp denominations, and the evolving structure of postal tariffs.

The reverse side of the envelope displays an entire sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed directly to the surface. This feature is particularly notable from a philatelic perspective. Such usage generally occurred when large or heavy commercial mail required higher postage rates, necessitating the application of numerous low-value stamps. The attachment of entire stamp sheets to envelopes served as a practical method for completing the required postage. Examples of this type represent interesting aspects of postal practice in the early postwar German postal system.

Record Information

Title: Ewald Behrend Business Envelope (Berlin to Dachau)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Post-War German Trade / Photographic Supply Networks

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

City: Berlin (Sender: Ewald Behrend) → Dachau, Bavaria (Recipient: Max Hackner)

Date of use: 1948

Company (Sender): Ewald Behrend Foto–Kino Fachhandlung, Zossener Strasse 40, Berlin SW 29, Germany. A photographic and cinema equipment retailer engaged in retail (Detail), manufacturing (Fabrikation), and wholesale (Engros) operations.

Object Type: Commercial envelope (heavy commercial mail with multiple stamps)

Postal Features: German "Deutsche Post" postage stamps (multiple denominations); Berlin postal cancellation (1948); entire sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed to reverse.

Language: German

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Ewald Behrend, Berlin photographic trade, post-war German commerce, Max Hackner, Dachau photography, Lichtbildner, Deutsche Post stamps, multiple stamp usage, stamp sheet affixing, 1948 German postal history, photographic supply reconstruction.

Archival Significance: This 1948 envelope documents post-war commercial correspondence between a Berlin photographic equipment dealer (Ewald Behrend) and a Bavarian photographer (Max Hackner), featuring extensive multiple-stamp usage and a full sheet of 2 Pfennig stamps affixed to the reverse, illustrating postal practices during the early reconstruction period in 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 : 1887 USA

Geo.G. JOHNSON Photographer Business Stationery USA

This 1887 letter cover documents a meaningful connection between late nineteenth-century American photography and the commercial agricultural world. Sent from Cleveland, Ohio, the cover originates from the studio of photographer Geo. G. Johnson and is addressed to Powell Brothers, a well-known commercial enterprise based in Springboro, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.

Geo. G. Johnson was an active professional photographer in Cleveland during the 1880s. His name appears on photographic prints and studio materials bearing the designation "Photographer," indicating a commercially operated studio rather than an occasional or amateur practice. In rapidly growing cities like Cleveland, photography studios served not only private portrait clients but also businesses and agricultural enterprises that required visual documentation and promotional images. The use of printed letterhead on this envelope reflects Johnson's established business identity and his engagement in regular commercial correspondence.

The recipient, Powell Brothers, operated a large-scale stock farm in northwestern Pennsylvania. During the late nineteenth century, the firm gained recognition for breeding and raising high-quality livestock, particularly heavy draft horses, alongside other agricultural stock. Enterprises of this scale relied heavily on professional photography to document animals, facilities, and operations, making communication with photographers both practical and necessary.

The postal cancellation dated December 8, 1887, confirms the envelope's use as part of routine business activity. Sent from Cleveland to Pennsylvania, the letter likely concerned photographic services, image orders, or related commercial arrangements. Handwritten notes along the side of the cover suggest that the letter was processed internally by the recipient, possibly for accounting or record-keeping purposes.

Beyond its function as a postal artifact, this cover serves as a tangible record of how photography intersected with commerce and agriculture in late nineteenth-century America. It illustrates a working relationship between an urban photographic studio and a rural commercial enterprise, preserved through ordinary business correspondence. Today, the envelope stands as a valuable historical document, bridging photographic history, commercial communication, and American economic life of the period.

Record Information

Title: Geo.G. JOHNSON Photographer Business Stationery USA

Category: Photographic History / Commercial Practices

Subcategory: Studio Correspondence / Agricultural Photography

Country: USA

City: Cleveland, Ohio → Springboro, Pennsylvania

Date of use: 8 December 1887

Studio (Sender): Geo. G. Johnson, Photographer, Cleveland, Ohio. Active professional photographer in the 1880s. Operated a commercial studio serving private clients, businesses, and agricultural enterprises.

Recipient: Powell Brothers, Springboro, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. A large-scale stock farm breeding high-quality livestock, particularly heavy draft horses. Relied on professional photography for documentation and promotion.

Object Type: Domestic commercial envelope (letter cover)

Postal Features: U.S. postage, Cleveland cancellation (8 December 1887), handwritten notes suggesting internal processing by recipient.

Language: English

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard envelope format

Collection Theme: Geo. G. Johnson, Cleveland photography, Powell Brothers, agricultural photography, 19th-century commercial correspondence, stock farm documentation, urban-rural business networks.

Archival Significance: This 1887 envelope documents a working relationship between an urban photographic studio and a large-scale agricultural enterprise. It illustrates the practical applications of photography in documenting livestock and farm operations for commercial purposes. The postal cancellation and handwritten notes provide evidence of routine business correspondence. This item is a primary source for understanding the intersection of photography, commerce, and agriculture in late 19th-century America.

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.