Date of use : 18 January 1947, Iraq
Colonial Photo Stores Cover – Basra to Alexandria
This document represents an international commercial correspondence transmitted through the registered postal system used during the period of the British Empire. The printed phrase "Registered Letter" on the front of the envelope clearly indicates that the item was processed under registered mail regulations. Registered mail services were developed primarily for the secure transmission of documents considered valuable or important. Within this system, the postal administration recorded the item and supervised its delivery through an officially monitored process.
The postage stamps affixed to the envelope belong to the postal administration of British India. The stamps feature the portrait of King George VI, the reigning monarch of the period, and belong to standard stamp issues widely used in India during the 1930s and 1940s. Postal cancellation marks visible on the envelope indicate the date "18 JAN 47." This date falls only a few months before India achieved independence in August 1947. Consequently, the envelope can be interpreted as an example of postal usage from the final phase of the British colonial administration in India. The cancellation also contains the wording "Base Post Office," which suggests that the item was processed through a postal facility associated with a military postal network.
The addressee section of the envelope lists the business name "The Colonial Photo Stores." The address line reads "31 Boulevard Saad Zaghloul, Alexandria, Egypt." This address indicates that the letter was directed to a commercial establishment located in Alexandria, one of Egypt's major port cities. During the first half of the twentieth century, Boulevard Saad Zaghloul developed into an important commercial area of the city. As a major Mediterranean port, Alexandria functioned as a significant crossroads for trade between Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. As a result, the city hosted numerous trading companies, photographic studios, and optical supply shops.
The name "The Colonial Photo Stores" suggests that the business was likely involved in the trade of photographic equipment and materials. During the early twentieth century, the global spread of photographic technology led to the establishment of specialized photographic retailers in many urban centers. These shops typically sold cameras, photographic film, plates, and darkroom supplies while also offering services related to photographic processing. In international port cities such as Alexandria, where commercial and cultural exchange was particularly active, businesses of this type were especially common.
The sender's section of the envelope includes the notation "LAC Edwin D." The abbreviation "LAC" stands for "Leading Aircraftman," a rank used for enlisted personnel in the Royal Air Force. This detail indicates that the letter was sent by a member of military personnel. Correspondence of this kind reflects the communication links that existed between military personnel stationed abroad and commercial establishments or individuals in other regions.
From a postal historical perspective, the envelope illustrates the interaction between military postal systems and civilian commercial addresses. During the era of the British Empire, military units were stationed in numerous regions around the world. Postal facilities associated with military bases enabled personnel to send international correspondence through established postal networks. Such systems made it possible for service members to maintain contact not only with family members but also with businesses and commercial services located abroad.
From a philatelic standpoint, the envelope represents a registered international letter franked with stamps of British India. The presence of multiple stamps with different denominations indicates that the total postage corresponded to a specific postal tariff. The printed registered mail designation and the cancellation marks further enhance the postal historical significance of the item.
In conclusion, this envelope represents a small but meaningful example of communication linking military postal systems and international commercial networks. Sent from a military postal facility and addressed to a photographic business in Alexandria, an important commercial center of Egypt, the letter illustrates the connections that existed between military personnel, commercial enterprises, and global postal infrastructure during the mid-twentieth century. As such, the document can be interpreted not merely as a postal artifact but also as a historical trace of the communication networks that connected distant regions of the world during this period.
Record Information
Title: Colonial Photo Stores Cover – Basra to Alexandria
Category: Photographic Industry History / International Trade
Subcategory: Military Postal History / Colonial Commerce
Country: Iraq (British military post) → Egypt
🗺️ Show Route
City: Basra (Base Post Office) → Alexandria (31 Boulevard Saad Zaghloul)
Date of use: 18 January 1947
Sender: LAC Edwin D. (Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force). A military personnel member stationed in Iraq.
Company (Recipient): The Colonial Photo Stores, 31 Boulevard Saad Zaghloul, Alexandria, Egypt. A photographic equipment and materials retailer, likely selling cameras, film, plates, and darkroom supplies.
Object Type: International registered envelope ("Registered Letter")
Postal Route 🚢: Basra, Iraq → Alexandria, Egypt (18 January 1947) (Estimated Route)
Estimated Travel Time: Approximately 1-2 weeks (maritime route via Persian Gulf and Suez Canal)
Postal Features: British India stamps with King George VI portrait; "Base Post Office" cancellation dated 18 JAN 47; registered mail handling; military postal network usage.
Language: English
Material: Paper envelope
Dimensions: Standard envelope format
Collection Theme: The Colonial Photo Stores, Alexandria commerce, British military postal history, LAC rank, RAF in Iraq, King George VI stamps, late colonial India, Middle Eastern photographic trade.
Archival Significance: This 1947 registered envelope documents a communication link between a British military serviceman in Iraq and a photographic retailer in Alexandria. It illustrates the intersection of military postal systems with civilian commercial networks. The address to a photographic shop reflects the global demand for photographic supplies. This item is a primary source for understanding the role of postal infrastructure in connecting military personnel with commercial services and the circulation of photographic technology in the mid-20th 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.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.
