Springer-Verlag History of a Scientific Publishing House : Part 1 Foundation 1842-1945 Maturation Adversity

This book describes the fortunes and activities of one of the few specialist publishing houses still in the hands of the same family that established it over 150 years ago and with it gives a portrayal of those members who directed it. In doing so it covers a period of momentous historical events that directly and indirectly shaped the firm's actions and achievements. But this volume tells not only, in word and picture, the story of Springer-Verlag but also, interwoven with it, the story of publishing in Germany over the span of a hundred years. The text, densely packed with carefully researched facts and figures, is illuminated and supplemented by many illustrations whose captions, together with the author's notes, contain a wealth of important and interesting information. A second volume contains the history of the publishing house from 1945 to 1992. A chronicle written only by someone for whom the present important. Goethe, Maximen und Reflexionen The second volume of our company's history differs from the first in several ways. With a great appreciation of history, Heinz Sarkowski has impressively reconstructed the company cor- spondence, which is fortunately almost completely preserved, and made it speak. • There is an inexhaustible amount of c- respondence pertaining to the period I have taken it upon myself to cover, and working through it properly not only would have required many years, but also would have detracted from the immediacy of the account. Thus, I decided to proceed from personal experience, to describe what has happened and to provide details gleaned from the correspondence. I have - counted here by no means only my own, but rather the personal experiences of the many company members and employees who are mentioned below. With the founding of the New York firm, developments branch out, becoming parallel but separate, and the change from one scene to another repeatedly interrupts the continuing course of events and the chronological flow of the report. In this connection, the occasional repetition of certain facts was - avoidable. In some places, however, it seemed more appropriate not to interrupt particular lines of development, but to describe them in continuity without regard to specific periods of time. The second part of the history of Springer-Verlag covers the events from the new beginning following the Second World War until the change in company management at the end of 1992. It forms a unit with regard to both the work of the personalities who put their stamp on the company and their publishing policy. Two main periods are discernible: The first is the phase of reconstruction in Berlin, Heidelberg, Göttingen, Munich and Vienna. Here, the proven tradition of attention to quality of content and form was carried on. International expansion followed, beginning with the founding of a branch in New York in 1964. This was connected with the transition to the English language for a large portion of Springer's scientific books and journals. A further equally important step resulted from an early appreciation of the growing significance of East Asia. The acquisition of a distribution firm in 1978 was followed in 1983 by the commencement of the company's own publishing activity in Tokyo. Even earlier than this, activities had been developed in India with New Delhi as headquarters. In Hong Kong, which occupies a key position for contacts with China and South-East Asia, a branch was founded in 1986. The aim of all these undertakings was to establish a global presence for Springer-Verlag both in planning and selling scientific literature This book describes the fortunes and activities of one of the few specialist publishing houses still in the hands of the same family that established it over years ago, and with it gives a p- trayal of those members who directed it. In doing so it covers a period of momentous historical events that directly and in- rectly shaped the firm's actions and achievements. But this volume tells not only, in word and picture, the story of Springer- Verlag but also, interwoven with it, the story of scientific p- lishing in Germany over the span of a hundred years. The text, densely packed with carefully researched facts and figures, is illuminated and supplemented by many illustrations whose captions, together with the author's notes, contain a wealth of important and interesting information. The reader is urged to read these captions as well as the notes so as to - preciate in full the events and people described. I have added a few footnotes to clarify or expand on some matters that may be unfamiliar to non-German readers. Because of the long period of time covered in these pages many of the documents and letters shown and commented upon are different in diction and style from those of today. An - tempt was made in the translation to keep the flavour of the original language and not contemporise it. Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII From the Founding of the Company to the Sale of the Bookshop (1842–1858)....Pages 1-47 Building up the Publishing House and the Beginnings of Specialisation (1858–1877)....Pages 48-82 Publisher of Books in Engineering and for Public Authorities (1877–1906)....Pages 83-161 Stormy Growth. World War I (1907–1918)....Pages 162-236 The Expansion of Scientific Publishing (1919–1932)....Pages 237-324 Years of Danger (1933–1945)....Pages 325-385 Back Matter....Pages 388-449 This history of Springer Verlag covers, in detail, the 150 year history of the scientific publishing house. Volume One begins with an account of the German bookseller Julius Springer opening his own bookstore in 1842, and at the same time beginning a career as a publisher. It describes the subsequent developments by drawing upon information in the Springer archives." This first part of the 150 year history of Springer Verlag, the scientific publishing house, begins with an account of the German bookseller Julius Springer opening his own bookstore in 1842. It presents a detailed account of the growth and success of the publishing house up until World War II. This second part of the 150 year history of Springer Verlag, the scientific publishing house, begins after World War II and continues up to 1992 when a change of management took place. The founding of a branch in New York in 1964 is described along with the beginning of publishing in English. Part I. 1842-1945, Foundation, Maturation, Adversity / By Heinz Sarkowski -- Part Ii. 1945-1992, Rebuilding, Opening Frontiers, Securing The Future / By Heinz Götze. Translation Of: Der Springer-verlag. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Pt. 1. 1842-1945, Foundation, maturation, adversity / Heinz Sarkowski pt. 2. 1945-1992, Rebuilding, opening frontiers, securing the future / Heinz Götze.