Johnson Photo Envelope (1980)

Digital cameras murdered film. Phone cameras buried it. By 2026, the only people still fiddling with reels of film are the purest of all photography enthusiasts. Decades ago, however, it was very different, as this Johnson Photo envelope from 1980 proves.

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This little paper pouch, donated by a reader of Ephemeral 80s, will appear completely alien to anyone under the age of 30. But once upon a time it was essential. Without it, your holiday snaps stayed trapped in a little plastic canister, and it was impossible for you to bore your friends and family with endless shots of Auntie Sheila under a palm tree.

Back in 1980, if you wanted to get your photos developed, you had two options: trudge to Boots or post them off to a dedicated photo laboratory. And then wait. And wait. Naturally, competition was fierce, with all manner of deals being dangled and promises made. This particular Johnson Photo envelope, which had been stuffed into a magazine in early 1980 and forgotten for 46 years, showcases the pure salesmanship.

Not only was there no need to pay upfront, snap-happy consumers were also treated to a 50p off voucher and the whole thing was freepost. A holy trinity if ever there was one. Whether these flimsy paper envelopes were secure enough for a rigid film canister is debatable. I certainly had more faith in the later plastic envelopes, even if they were ecological villains.

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It's not thrilling ephemera, although I do wonder what became of the baby on the front. Nonetheless, it ticks almost every box of interest for readers of Ephemeral 80s. It's disposable by design, it's an insight into a slower, clumsier world and, of course, it looks gloriously vintage.

Thanks again to David, who donated this to the Ephemeral 80s collection.