Die Historische Kommission des Börsenvereins des Deutschen Buchhandels und die "Geschichte des deutschen Buchhandels im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert": ein Projekt und seine Vorgeschichte

Abstract

The Börsenverein des Deutsches Buchhandels (German Publishers and Booksellers Association) was founded in 1825. It was the first commercial association in Germany, which dealt with its own history on academic principles: in 1876 the association appointed a special Historical Committee. This committee published a 4-volume , , Geschichte des Deutschen Buchhandels" (History of German Book Trade) between 1886 and 1913, written by Friedrich Kapp and Johann Goldfriedrich (shortly cited Kapp/GoldfriedricK). After Worldwar II the Committee, which was disbanded by the Nazi regime, was appointed again. Since the middle of the 20th century and more intensively since the 80-ies it worked on a draft for a , , Geschichte des deutschen Buchhandels im 19. Und 20. Jahrhundert", so to speak a continuation of Kapp/Goldfriedrich planned with 5 volumes. The methodology it is based on, is the French histoire du livre, adapted for German conditions by Herbert G. Gopfert as history , from the author to the reader". Vol. 1.1 was published in 2001 and attracted a very positive response by the experts. Vol. 1.2 was delivered in 2003. This paper deals with the history of the Historical Committee, discusses the distinctions in the methodology between Kapp/Goldfriedrich and the new publication and describes the developing process.