Abstract

Founded in 1828, the Reclam publishing house made books available to a mass audience. Reclam published authors such as Goethe, Schiller, and Shakespeare at very low prices in what eventually became its Universal Library series. The growth in literacy rates at the end of the nineteenth century created a market for the series, which initially included 200 titles at prices that lower-income readers could afford.

Reclam’s Universal Library (1911)

Source

Reclam’s world-famous

Universal Library

is the best inexpensive product line for the German retail bookseller. Year in and year out, bustling firms sell thousands upon thousands of these little, red-and-yellow, 20-pfennig volumes. Of course, the greatest turnover is achieved by those firms that keep the complete collection in stock. Furthermore, with the Universal Library, these firms have the great advantage of constantly attracting new customers, for the friends of the Universal Library prefer to buy the other books they need in shops where they know that each and every volume of the Universal Library is immediately available. The fact that, despite these great advantages, there are still firms that stock only an insufficient selection of the Universal Library has to do, in most cases, with a lack of space. Because when displayed on ordinary shelves, the whole collection takes up approximately five square meters of wall space.

The Model C space-saving Reclam bookcase [shown above in closed position] consists entirely of shelves contained in a three-part, side-by-side arrangement, such that one part forms the central, fixed portion of the case, while the other two parts are attached with reinforced hinges to either side of the central portion, thereby forming a double-winged door. The two movable side-wing cases run on rollers, under which iron tracks (or a strip of sheet metal) must be attached to the floor. The whole case should be fastened to the wall. The orderly arrangement of volumes, as well as their selection, is made extremely easy through the use of the Model C bookcase, which is copyright-protected through the D.R.G.M. All three parts of this case are highly attractive and accessible, and allow the public to view the Universal Library in its imposing magnitude in the best, most advantageous manner. The acquisition costs are quickly defrayed through increased sales and the extraordinary space-saving effects of this bookcase.

Model A

Model B

Model C

200 cm high

holds 8200

150 cm high

holds 6000

229 cm high

holds 7400

103 cm wide

103 cm wide

100 cm wide

50 cm deep

50 cm deep

37 cm deep

In birch, stained

In birch, stained

In birch, stained

Price: Mk. 130.—

Price: Mk. 100.—

Price: Mk. 90.—

Prices are calculated on the basis of shipment from Leipzig, without packing, which costs an extra 5 Mk. per bookcase.

Reclam’s

Universal Library

Available here

Reclam’s Universe

has achieved the greatest distribution among all educated circles, both at home and abroad, on account of its manifoldly diverse content and elegant appearance. Wherever there is interest in literature and art and in the great questions of our time, Reclam’s Universe is a welcome weekly guest.

Catalogue and sample issue available for free!

[Poster; Dimensions: 76 x 48 cm. Appropriate for posting and display.]

Source: Dietrich Bode, ed., Reclam: Daten, Bilder und Dokumente zur Verlagsgeschichte, 1828–2003, Stuttgart, 2003, pp. 74–75.

Translation: Richard Petit