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, Czechoslovakia

Emil Watchtl Praha – Camera and Photo Material Dealer

This postal envelope represents a commercial communication that reflects the professional and commercial networks of photographic studios operating in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. The printed heading at the top of the envelope identifies the sender as Emil Wachtl Praha, indicating a photographic studio or photographic supply business located in Prague. The address Senovážná 8 places the establishment within the central district of the city. Senovážná Street was situated in a commercially active area of Prague during the early twentieth century, a period when the city served as one of the principal cultural and economic centers of Central Europe. The phrase "foto obchod atelier" printed on the envelope suggests that the enterprise combined the functions of a photographic studio with the retail sale of photographic materials and equipment. Businesses of this type were common in the photographic economy of the period, often offering portrait photography services while simultaneously supplying photographic materials to both professionals and amateurs.

The envelope is addressed to V. Linhart, whose address line includes the designation "foto atelier." This wording indicates that the recipient was also professionally engaged in photographic activity and likely operated a photographic studio. The correspondence therefore appears to represent communication between two photographic businesses. Such exchanges typically concerned the supply of photographic equipment, the distribution of photographic materials, or other forms of professional cooperation within the photographic trade. In this sense, the envelope provides a small but meaningful illustration of the professional networks that linked photographic practitioners during the interwar period.

Postal cancellation marks visible on the envelope identify Prague (Praha) as the location of mailing and record the date 26 July 1934. This date places the item within the interwar period of Czechoslovakia, a time when the country experienced relative economic stability and industrial growth. Prague functioned not only as the political capital but also as a major center of cultural production, trade, and technological development. The photographic industry formed an integral component of this dynamic environment.

An additional notable feature of the envelope is the large advertising cancellation printed across the upper portion. The cancellation includes the phrase "Státní stavební losy," which refers to a state-sponsored construction lottery organized in Czechoslovakia. The accompanying phrase "milionové výhry" indicates the possibility of prizes reaching into the millions. Postal slogan cancellations of this type were commonly used to promote government economic initiatives and public campaigns. Consequently, the envelope not only represents commercial correspondence but also illustrates how the postal system functioned as a medium for disseminating official promotional messages.

📌 Note :

---

The sender of the envelope is Emil Wachtl (1880–1942), a photographic equipment dealer who operated in Prague. The recipient identified as V. Linhart may possibly be connected to Lubomír Linhart (1906–1980), a figure known in Czech cultural and cinematic circles for his writings on film and photography.

However, the phrase "foto atelier" written on the envelope suggests that the recipient may have been a professional photographer who operated a photographic studio. For this reason, two possible interpretations should be considered regarding the identity of the recipient. The first possibility is that the addressee is not the same person as Lubomír Linhart but rather a local studio owner engaged in professional photographic work. The second possibility is that Linhart may have been involved in photographic practice or studio activity during the early stages of his career.

Archival Note: Currently available archival records do not provide definitive evidence confirming this connection. Therefore, the identification of the recipient as Lubomír Linhart should be regarded as a plausible but unconfirmed possibility, representing a historical uncertainty that must be treated with caution in the interpretation of the document.

Record Information

Title: Emil Wachtl Business Envelope (Prague)

Category: Photographic Industry History / Commercial Correspondence

Subcategory: Czechoslovak Photographic Studios / Interwar Trade Networks

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

City: Prague (Sender: Emil Wachtl) → [Domestic Recipient]

Date of use: 26 July 1934

Company (Sender): Emil Wachtl, Senovážná 8, Prague, Czechoslovakia. A photographic studio and equipment dealer (foto obchod atelier) active in Prague, operated by Emil Wachtl (1880–1942).

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

Postal Features: Czechoslovak postage stamps; Prague postal cancellation (26 July 1934); advertising slogan cancellation "Státní stavební losy – milionové výhry" (State construction lottery – million-prize winnings).

Language: Czech

Material: Paper envelope

Dimensions: Standard commercial envelope format

Collection Theme: Emil Wachtl, Prague photographic trade, Czechoslovak studio photographers, Senovážná Street, interwar photography, professional networks, Lubomír Linhart, state construction lottery, advertising slogan cancellations, 1930s Czechoslovak postal history.

Archival Significance: This 1934 envelope documents commercial correspondence between Prague photographic dealer Emil Wachtl and a professional studio photographer, featuring a state construction lottery advertising slogan cancellation, illustrating the professional networks of the Czechoslovak photographic industry and the use of postal cancellations for government promotional campaigns during the interwar 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.

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.