Map of Silesia by Martin Helwig (1738) by Martin HelwigOssoliński National Institute
Breslau in the 18th century
For Breslau, the 18th century was the time of change and turbulent events. After several centuries of being a part of the Habsburg Monarchy, under which the city had the status of an autonomous municipality, Breslau was incorporated into Prussia in 1741 as a result of the Silesian War.
As the capital of Silesia, Breslau was the economic and commercial hub of the region. When the first university – the Academia Leopoldina, was founded in 1702, the city became an important educational, scientific and printing centre.
Panorama of Wrocław with portraits of Frederick the Great and Elisabeth Christine (1701-1800) by Jan Bartłomiej StrachowskiOssoliński National Institute
Silesian printing houses in the 18th century
The first printing house in Silesia, founded by Caspar Elyan, was established in Breslau before 1475. The first ever printed texts in Polish appeared on the pages of “Statuta synodalia episcoporum vratislaviensium...” (1475) issued by that publisher.
"Topographische Chronik von Breslau: mit vier Kupfern und einer Vignette. Erstes Quartal" View of the market square towards Oławska StreetOssoliński National Institute
Later on, subsequent publishing houses continued Polish traditions in Silesian printing: in K. Goski’s prognostications published by the Scharffenbergs, Dobracki’s and Roter’s handbooks printed in the Baumanns printing house, and in the repertoire of 17th-century publishing houses from Oels and Brieg.
Over the 17th-18th centuries, the Breslau printing market was developed by printers such as Konrad Baumgarten, Adam Dyon, Kaspar Lybisch (Caspar Liebisch), Crispin and Johann Scharffenberg, Georg Baumann 1st and 2nd (father and son), etc.
On the initiative of Andreas Winkler, rector of the school (later grammar school) at St. Elisabeth’s Church, the first municipal printing house was established in Breslau by a charter issued by the City Council on 23 December 1538.
"Topographische Chronik von Breslau: mit vier Kupfern und einer Vignette. Erstes Quartal" St Elizabeth's ChurchOssoliński National Institute
Alongside this printing house, two new publishing companies emerged in the early 18th century: the Bishop’s Printing House, founded in 1699 by Andrzej Franciszek Pega, and the University Printing House, which was established in 1726 at the newly founded Breslau University.
In the 18th century, a new major player appeared on the Wrocław publishing and bookselling market – the Korn family from Franconia, one of the dynasties most distinguished for Polish culture in Silesia.
200 Jahre Wilh. Gottl. Korn – BreslauOssoliński National Institute
Johann Jakob Korn – founder of a publishing company in Breslau
Johann Jakob Korn (1702-1756), came from the town of Neustadt in Upper Franconia. In 1729 he functioned as an independent printer in Berlin. In 1732, at the instigation of his father-in-law, the Berlin bookseller and publisher Johann Andreas Rüdiger, Korn moved to Breslau.
Taking advantage of the fact that Leipzig, a major publishing centre, was ousted from the Eastern European book market, Korn focused his activity primarily on the Polish market. Korn’s first publication from Breslau was presented at the Leipzig fair in 1732.
In the early years, Korn’s publishing output was intended for the local market. In addition to pamphlets reporting on interesting political events and everyday use books, textbooks, religious prints, etc., Korn produced scientific publications, too.
For years, Korn had been requesting permission to set up his own printing works. Before that happened, he had to seek out other publishing houses to print his publications. At first, he cooperated with printers from Berlin and Koburg. Later on, he established a partnership with Breitkopf’s company in Leipzig.
Chronologically, the first Polish books brought out by J. J. Korn were occasional prints, thematically related to the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the interregnum following the death of August II Sas. The prints were published anonymously in German.
The first Polish print signed by J. J. Korn was a collective edition of three treatises by Szymon Starowolski, published in 1733 in Latin under the common title “Tractatus tres”.
A collection of works by Theophan Prokopovich in Latin and Polish (1745) by Theophan ProkopovichOssoliński National Institute
With a plan to develop his activities in Eastern Europe, J. J. Korn established contact with the scientific milieu of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The first author from this circle was Theophan Prokopovych, former rector of the Academy and Archbishop of Novgorod
First catalogue of the cimelia/rare editions of the Załuski Library. Vol. 1–5Ossoliński National Institute
Owing to his acquaintance and cooperation with Jan Daniel Janocki (1720-1786), prefect of the Załuski Library – the first public library in Poland, J. J. Korn succeeded in making contact with the Załuski house and winning several scholars from that circle as authors of his publications.
Janocki’s collaboration with Korn’s company lasted almost ten years. Over that time, Janocki acted as an advisor on Polish books and published his own works in Korn’s printing house.
Janocki’s works, based mainly on the rich book collection of the Załuski Library, broadly presented knowledge of Polish literature, scientific and cultural life in the Commonwealth. For many years, these publications held an important place in Korn company’s publishing repertoire.
Works by J. D. Janocki from J. J. Korn’s publishing repertoire
From the circle of the Załuski family and their Library came, among others, Stefan Garczyński (1690-1755), Polish politician, author of political writings, nephew of Józef Andrzej and Andrzej Stanisław Załuski.
Anatomy of the Republic-Poland... (1753) by Stefan GarczyńskiOssoliński National Institute
The Korn publishing house printed the third edition of Garczyński’s most important work - “The Anatomy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth” in 1755. Its first two editions were produced in the Jesuit printing house in Warsaw in 1750 and 1751.
Highly critical of the Polish economy and politics, the book was severely censored in Poland. That made the author seek a publisher outside the country. The Załuski family’s contacts with J. J. Korn resulted in Garczyński decision to choose Korn’s company to publish his work.
Polnischer Büchersaal
In order to disseminate knowledge about Poland in Silesia, J. J. Korn planned to publish a periodical in German entitled “Polnischer Büchersaal”. Because of the war outbreak in 1756, only the first issue, compiled by J. D. Janocki, was published.
200 Jahre Wilh. Gottl. Korn – BreslauOssoliński National Institute
Johann Friedrich Korn (1736-1802)
Johann Friedrich Korn, J. J. Korn’s eldest son, started his bookselling business during the Seven Years’ War. Despite that, thanks to his education and contacts, he was able to ensure the operation of his own publishing house founded in 1757.
Like his father, J. F. Korn did not have his own printing works, thus he produced his publications in print shops in Lissa (Leszno), Sagan (Żagań), the municipal and bishop’s printing houses in Breslau, as well as in Leipzig and Berlin.
An 18th-century Polish language textbook ... (1785) by Daniel VogelOssoliński National Institute
In terms of graphic design, J. F. Korn’s publications were average. However, highly professional text editing along with the publishing repertoire guaranteed that J. F. Korn’s books enjoyed a favourable reception from readers.
The Polish textbook press in J. F. Korn’s company had a regular author - Daniel Vogel (1742-1829), Polish language teacher at the St. Mary Magdalene Grammar School in Breslau, translator, publisher, bibliophile, author of textbooks and dictionaries for the Polish language.
An 18th-century Polish language textbook ... (1785) by Daniel VogelOssoliński National Institute
In 1785, Vogel prepared and published in collaboration with J.F. Korn a collection of texts for Polish learners. Being the basis for teaching Polish in grammar schools, Vogel’s textbooks were a regular feature in Korns’ publishing catalogue.
Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn (1739-1806)
After J. J. Korn’s death, his bookselling and publishing company was inherited by his son Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn, who took over the management of the company in 1762.
200 Jahre Wilh. Gottl. Korn – BreslauOssoliński National Institute
Under W. G. Korn’s leadership, the company was granted the royal charter to supply duty-free books to Poland. Consequently, it opened bookshops in Poznan, Warsaw and Lviv, and supplied books for the royal and university libraries in Vilnius.
Continuing the publishing programme developed by his father,
Wilhelm Gottlieb published mainly scientific papers, school books, everyday use books, above all guidebooks, as well as fiction, including translations of popular works by German, French and, more rarely, English authors.
Publications by Wilhelm Gottlieb Korn
Johann Gottlieb Korn (1765-1837)
Johann Gottlieb Korn was an apprentice in his father’s company from 1778. 1805 marked the moment when he eventually took over the business.
Hand-coloured 19th-century Primer (1803) by Jerzy Samuel BandtkieOssoliński National Institute
J. G. Korn continued to publish books addressed to the main ethnic groups living in Breslau and the surrounding area. In this respect, he collaborated with George Samuel Bandtkie, a linguist and bibliographer, and a Polish teacher at the St. Elisabeth Grammar School.
The art of distilling various vodkas from Wroclaw and Gdansk [...] (1828) by unknownOssoliński National Institute
Among the prints published at the time, intended for the Polish-speaking population, are educational prints and textbooks, those popularising Polish history and literature (also world literature), as well as guides to a range of human activities.
Polish woman playing with her sons, that is the Description of Polish History... (1821) by Konstancja BiernackaOssoliński National Institute
At the time, educational non-book publications were an interesting and popular way of introducing young people to the history of their homeland. An example of this is the game related to Polish history titled “A Polish woman playing with her sons...".
Letters on Education (1833) by Klementyna HoffmanOssoliński National Institute
In 1833, the printing house issued a book of a pedagogical and advisory character, entitled "Letters on Education". The author, Klementyna Hoffmanowa née Tańska, was the first Polish woman to make a living from her own creative and pedagogical work.
Julius Korn (1799-1837)
In 1837, the Korns were struck by a great tragedy. Even before Johann Gottlieb died, his son and successor, Julius Korn, died too. The entrepreneur bequeathed the business to his minor grandchildren, on whose behalf the company was administered by trustees.
Letters on Education (1833) by Klementyna HoffmanOssoliński National Institute
It was a rather turbulent time, leading up to the Spring of Nations and the revolution itself. During that period, the Korns’ publishing house was primarily oriented towards a presence on the newspaper market. Titles such as "Schlesische Zeitung" and "Gazeta Wrocławska" were published.
Heinrich Korn (1829-1907)
In the mid-19th century, the publishing house was taken over by Heinrich Korn, Julius’s son. At that time the printshop was modernised, thanks to which the Korns’ publishing house held an important position among publishing houses in the east of the Reich.
Miscellaneous thoughts on the way gardens are set upOssoliński National Institute
At that time, historical, legal and theological books prevailed in the Korns’ publishing repertoire. Polish publications, on the other hand, appeared less and less frequently.
200 Jahre Wilh. Gottl. Korn – BreslauOssoliński National Institute
Richard von Bergmann-Korn (1885-1945)
The last owner of the company in Breslau was Richard von Bergmann-Korn, who managed it during both world wars. Despite the difficult conditions, this was a period of growth for the publishing house.
200 Jahre Wilh. Gottl. Korn – BreslauOssoliński National Institute
By publishing books both in German and Polish, the Korns’ company played a unique role in uniting the interests of the two nations that lived in Silesia and Breslau for centuries.
The Korns’ bookselling and publishing company, run by representatives of seven generations of the family, operated in Breslau until 1945. Its current headquarters are in Görlitz, Germany.
