Bibliographisches Institut
Encyclopedia
The German publishing company "Bibliographisches Institut" was founded 1826 in Gotha
by Joseph Meyer, moved 1828 to Hildburghausen and 1874 to Leipzig
. Its production over the years includes such well-known titles as "Meyers Lexikon" (encyclopaedias, since 1839, see "Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
"), "Brehms Tierleben" (animal life, 1863-69, 4th ed. 1911-18); "Duden" (dictionaries on every aspect of the language, since 1880); "Meyers Reisebücher" (guide books, 1862-1936); "Meyers Klassiker" (home and foreign literature); atlases ("Meyers Handatlas", "Der Grosse Weltatlas"), and others.
The buildings of the company were completely destroyed by the bombing raids on Leipzig 1943/44; the company itself expropriated by the communist regime in 1946 and turned into a "Volkseigener Betrieb
". The shareholders moved the concern to Mannheim
in Western-Germany in 1953 (Bibliographisches Institut AG). Titles like "Meyers (Enzyklopädisches) Lexikon", "Der Grosse Duden", "Schlag Nach!" and "Meyers Grosser Weltatlas" appeared again. In Leipzig remained the VEB Bibliographisches Institut, operating in the same field, publishing "Meyers Neues Lexikon", "Duden" etc.
In 1984 Bibliographisches Institut AG amalgamated with its biggest competitor in the market of reference works, F.A. Brockhaus
of Wiesbaden to Bibliographisches Institut & F.A. Brockhaus AG, having their seat in Mannheim. After the German reunion the company regained its former properties in Leipzig in 1991.
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
by Joseph Meyer, moved 1828 to Hildburghausen and 1874 to Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. Its production over the years includes such well-known titles as "Meyers Lexikon" (encyclopaedias, since 1839, see "Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon
Meyers Konversations-Lexikon or Meyers Lexikon was a major German encyclopedia that existed in various editions, and several titles, from 1839 until 1984, when it merged with the Brockhaus encyclopedia....
"), "Brehms Tierleben" (animal life, 1863-69, 4th ed. 1911-18); "Duden" (dictionaries on every aspect of the language, since 1880); "Meyers Reisebücher" (guide books, 1862-1936); "Meyers Klassiker" (home and foreign literature); atlases ("Meyers Handatlas", "Der Grosse Weltatlas"), and others.
The buildings of the company were completely destroyed by the bombing raids on Leipzig 1943/44; the company itself expropriated by the communist regime in 1946 and turned into a "Volkseigener Betrieb
Volkseigener Betrieb
The Volkseigener Betrieb was the legal form of industrial enterprise in East Germany...
". The shareholders moved the concern to Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
in Western-Germany in 1953 (Bibliographisches Institut AG). Titles like "Meyers (Enzyklopädisches) Lexikon", "Der Grosse Duden", "Schlag Nach!" and "Meyers Grosser Weltatlas" appeared again. In Leipzig remained the VEB Bibliographisches Institut, operating in the same field, publishing "Meyers Neues Lexikon", "Duden" etc.
In 1984 Bibliographisches Institut AG amalgamated with its biggest competitor in the market of reference works, F.A. Brockhaus
Brockhaus
Brockhaus may refer to:* Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus , German encyclopedia publisher and editor** Brockhaus Enzyklopädie, German-language encyclopedia**Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Russian-language encyclopedia...
of Wiesbaden to Bibliographisches Institut & F.A. Brockhaus AG, having their seat in Mannheim. After the German reunion the company regained its former properties in Leipzig in 1991.