Collection PL

1931 - Deutsche Orientbank A.G. Cairo Correspondence Set (Letter, Registered Cover, and Account Statement)

Complete 1931 Deutsche Orientbank A.G. Cairo correspondence set consisting of three original components: a printed bank letterhead with bilingual Arabic–French text, the matching addressed postal cover bearing a King Fuad 5m franking and Cairo postal strikes, and the full Konto–Korrent account statement issued to the same client on the same date. Taken together, these documents preserve the complete administrative chain between the German overseas bank's Cairo branch and one of its Egyptian clients during the interwar period. Read more →

Egypt 1923 - Banco di Roma, Cairo Branch Issued Cheque

The cheque is completed in multiple period inks. The handwritten date '17 Novembre 1923' appears at top, with payee information and the manuscript amount entered across the lower guilloche band designed to prevent alteration or erasure. A prominent red BANCO DI ROMA overprint identifies the Cairo branch and displays the bank’s fully paid capital in both lira and sterling. This bilingual capital declaration was typical of Banco di Roma's overseas branches, which catered to clients who settled payments in multiple currencies across the Mediterranean. At lower right, a violet PASSÉ clearing stamp dated 17 NOV. 1923 confirms same-day internal settlement. Pencil notations and endorsement initials along the left margin reflect the routine processing steps performed by bank clerks and receiving institutions. Read more →

Egypt 1901 - Philibin & Vve. Barrot, Cairo Hardware Merchants (Art Nouveau Letterhead Invoice)

The body records the sale of four hardware items described as '4 Seaux vernisés,' with individual price notes and a large diagonal signature confirming receipt of payment. Additional Arabic annotations in brown and black fountain-pen ink appear in the lower section, demonstrating the bilingual bookkeeping characteristic of Cairo's mixed French–Arabic commercial environment. Settlement initials and date confirmations appear at the lower left, with visible ink feathering from period dip-pen usage. Read more →

Egypt 1912 - Compagnie des Bateaux Omnibus (Nile Steamer Illustrated Letterhead)

This 1912 specimen, preserving all key elements-Nile steamer vignette, bilingual printed services, ministry arrival stamp, director signature, and Bahr Youssef operational reference-stands as a museum-level artifact documenting the functioning of Egypt’s river transport economy on the eve of World War I. Read more →

Egypt 1950 - Gamil Fawzi El-Motei Oldsmobile & Vauxhall Service Station (Heliopolis–Abbassia)

Arabic text surrounding the photos lists the dealership's affiliated brands and core functions: Oldsmobile, Vauxhall, supply of genuine GM parts, lubrication services, mechanical repairs, and modern car servicing facilities. The bilingual layout-Arabic masthead with Latin-script sub-branding-reflects the marketing practices used by early Cairo automobile agencies serving both local Egyptian customers and foreign residents concentrated in Heliopolis, Abbassia, and the European districts. Read more →

Egypt 1908 - Mohammed El Komi Carriage & Automobile Workshop Invoice

Cairo’s commercial culture during this period was multilingual and cosmopolitan. French remained the primary commercial language in elite districts, while Arabic was essential for daily business with Egyptian customers. Workshops serving both communities often printed bilingual letterheads to signal professionalism, European alignment, and full accessibility to local clients. Lithographers specialized in small-scale commercial printing, and carriage shops used illustrated headers to advertise craftsmanship, reliability, and technical skill in a competitive market. Read more →

Greece 1949 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certified Translation and Legalisation (Volos–Athens)

Most such case files were destroyed during mid-century archival reductions, often leaving behind only stray pages stripped of their revenues and seals. This fully preserved specimen captures the entire chain of administrative actions: local municipal attestation in Volos, certified English translation in Athens, high-value consular revenues, and final ministerial authentication by the Greek MFA. With its complete translation declaration, tied revenues, bilingual legalization block, dated seals, and original signatures, it stands as a museum-grade artifact documenting the postwar legal and diplomatic workflow of the Kingdom of Greece and the documentary infrastructure that governed civil identity and cross-border legal recognition in 1949. Read more →