Bartholomäus Herder
Encyclopedia
Bartholomäus Herder was born 22 August 1774 in the Swabia
n free town of Rottweil
, died at Freiburg im Breisgau, 11 March 1839. He was the founder of the publishing firm, Verlag Herder.
, his plan of "gaining his livelihood by the dissemination of good books" as a "scholarly publisher".
) Karl Theodor von Dalberg, in the capacity of "publisher to the princely episcopal court of Constance
", at Meersburg on the Lake of Constance, the episcopal residence and seat of a seminary. Among his first publications, which were mainly of a theological and pedagogic character, were Wessenberg's Archiv für pastorale Conferenzen in den Landkapiteln des Bisthums Constanz (1802–27).
In 1810 Herder transferred his business to Freiburg im Breisgau, where, in connection with the university, he gave a more comprehensive character to his publications and developed in new directions. One of his most important publications was Karl von Rotteck
's Allgemeine Geschichte vom Anfang der historischen Kenntniss bis auf unsere Zeiten (9 volumes, 1812–27; the 15th edition being issued by another firm), which for more than a generation was "the gospel of the educated liberal middle classes". Being entrusted with the publication of the official war bulletin, the Teutsche Blätter, by the royal and imperial authorities at headquarters as early as the end of 1813, Herder went to Paris with the allied armies in 1815 in Metternich's train as "Director of the Royal and Imperial Field Press".
Subsequent to the conclusion of peace he founded an art institution for lithography, copperplate engraving, and modelling in terra cotta, in connexion with his publishing business. In the course of time upwards of three hundred pupils were turned out from this institution, while the sumptuous illustrations and maps that were issued mark an epoch in the history of this branch of technic–especially the Heilige Schriften des Alten und Neuen Testamentes in 200 biblischen Kupfern (the Holy Writ of the Old and the New Testament in 200 biblical engravings), of which he reproduced numerous impressions by an original lithographic process, and Woerl's Atlas von Central-Europa in 60 Blättern (Atlas of Central Europe in 60 plates, 1830), which was the earliest employment of two-colour lithography. As late as 1870 this atlas rendered important service to the German army by reason of the map of France it contained. Although such great achievements won a European reputation for the house, the commercial profits derived therefrom were entirely disproportionate to the expenditure. Consequently the condition of the house at Bartholomäus Herder's death in 1839 was by no means a satisfactory one. His two sons, Karl Raphael Herder
and Benjamin Herder
succeeded him.
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
n free town of Rottweil
Rottweil
Rottweil is a town in the south west of Germany and is the oldest town in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.Located between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb hills, Rottweil has about 25,000 inhabitants...
, died at Freiburg im Breisgau, 11 March 1839. He was the founder of the publishing firm, Verlag Herder.
Early life and education
Originally destined for Holy orders, he was elaborating, while yet a student at the abbey school of St. Blasien and at the University of DillingenUniversity of Dillingen
The University of Dillingen, at Dillingen an der Donau in southern Germany, existed from 1551 to 1803. It was located in Swabia, then a district of Bavaria.-Foundation:...
, his plan of "gaining his livelihood by the dissemination of good books" as a "scholarly publisher".
Career
In 1801, during the turbulent period prior to the dissolution of the old German Empire, he began his career, at the instance of the Prince-Bishop (soon afterwards Prince PrimatePrince primate
Prince-Primate is a rare princely title held by individual archbishops of specific sees in a presiding capacity in an august assembly of mainly secular princes, notably the following:-Germany - Confederation of the Rhine:The Rheinbund or 'Confederation of the Rhine' was founded in 1806, when several...
) Karl Theodor von Dalberg, in the capacity of "publisher to the princely episcopal court of Constance
Bishopric of Constance
The Bishopric of Constance was a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church and ecclesiastical state of the Holy Roman Empire that existed from about 585 until 1821. Its seat was Konstanz at the western end of Lake Constance in the south-west corner of Germany...
", at Meersburg on the Lake of Constance, the episcopal residence and seat of a seminary. Among his first publications, which were mainly of a theological and pedagogic character, were Wessenberg's Archiv für pastorale Conferenzen in den Landkapiteln des Bisthums Constanz (1802–27).
In 1810 Herder transferred his business to Freiburg im Breisgau, where, in connection with the university, he gave a more comprehensive character to his publications and developed in new directions. One of his most important publications was Karl von Rotteck
Karl von Rotteck
Karl von Rotteck was a German historian, and a prominent advocate of freedom of the press.-Biography:...
's Allgemeine Geschichte vom Anfang der historischen Kenntniss bis auf unsere Zeiten (9 volumes, 1812–27; the 15th edition being issued by another firm), which for more than a generation was "the gospel of the educated liberal middle classes". Being entrusted with the publication of the official war bulletin, the Teutsche Blätter, by the royal and imperial authorities at headquarters as early as the end of 1813, Herder went to Paris with the allied armies in 1815 in Metternich's train as "Director of the Royal and Imperial Field Press".
Subsequent to the conclusion of peace he founded an art institution for lithography, copperplate engraving, and modelling in terra cotta, in connexion with his publishing business. In the course of time upwards of three hundred pupils were turned out from this institution, while the sumptuous illustrations and maps that were issued mark an epoch in the history of this branch of technic–especially the Heilige Schriften des Alten und Neuen Testamentes in 200 biblischen Kupfern (the Holy Writ of the Old and the New Testament in 200 biblical engravings), of which he reproduced numerous impressions by an original lithographic process, and Woerl's Atlas von Central-Europa in 60 Blättern (Atlas of Central Europe in 60 plates, 1830), which was the earliest employment of two-colour lithography. As late as 1870 this atlas rendered important service to the German army by reason of the map of France it contained. Although such great achievements won a European reputation for the house, the commercial profits derived therefrom were entirely disproportionate to the expenditure. Consequently the condition of the house at Bartholomäus Herder's death in 1839 was by no means a satisfactory one. His two sons, Karl Raphael Herder
Karl Raphael Herder
Karl Raphael Herder was the older son of Bartholomäus Herder. Karl ran the commercial side of the Verlag Herder business, while his younger brother, Benjamin Herder, took charge of the publishing department. Karl retired in 1856. His brother assumed total control of the company.-External links:...
and Benjamin Herder
Benjamin Herder
Benjamin Herder was born 31 July 1818. He died 10 November 1888. Ran Verlag Herder from 1856 until 1888. He was the brother of Karl Raphael Herder and the son of Bartholomäus Herder-Career:...
succeeded him.