Franz Friedrich Röhling

Book title Rheinreise

View of Mainz

Klopp Castle

Rheinfels Castle

Balduin Bridge Koblenz

Friedrichstein in Fahr (Neuwied)

View of Bonn

Franz Friedrich Röhling (born July 1, 1796 in Braubach ; † December 10, 1846 in Wiesbaden ) was the owner of a book and art shop in the city ​​of Koblenz (Coblenz) on the Middle Rhine from 1827 to 1832 . In addition, he was also increasingly active as a publisher . Because of this activity and a successful book about a trip to the Rhine (on the Middle Rhine), he is also considered a "trailblazer" for his competitor (and later successor) Karl Baedeker (Bädeker), the founder of the later world-famous travel book publisher .

Life

Franz Friedrich Röhling was born on July 1, 1796 as the son of the Protestant pastor and botanist Johann Christoph Röhling (1757–1813) in Braubach am Rhein, then still in Hesse-Darmstadt, and his wife Margaretha Barbara, née. Vogelhuber was born. His godfather was the publisher Friedrich Wilmans (1764-1830) in Frankfurt am Main . For the first few decades, nothing more is known about Franz Friedrich Röhling's professional career. It is possible that he did an apprenticeship as a bookseller with his uncle during these years. This would also explain that on June 29, 1827 - probably even on the recommendation of his uncle - he opened a book, art and music shop in the up-and-coming tourist center of Koblenz on the Middle Rhine. The building at Rheinstrasse 13 was in a very good location, as it was on the main axis between the city center and the banks of the Rhine. As a result of the almost simultaneous beginning of passenger steam navigation on the Rhine (1825), from May 1827 on the Middle Rhine, Röhling was able to count on increasing customer numbers.

publishing company

In the early days, the merchandise for sale was primarily material that he obtained from his uncle in Frankfurt am Main. Presumably, therefore, Röhling's business was initially a kind of branch of his godfather. But Röhling wanted more: as early as 1828 he appeared as a publisher himself. One of the first books to appear in his publishing house was Professor Johann August Klein's famous journey through the Rhine (from the Middle Rhine), which in later years became the basis for his extremely successful “travel manuals” for his local competitor (and successor) Karl Baedeker . Initially, however, Röhling devoted himself - albeit with considerable financial requirements - to the publication of further books and illustrated volumes, including numerous editions of Rhine albums and books with so-called Rhine views (mostly bilingual in German and French). One of these "Rhine views" of castles and palaces in the Middle Rhine, which were published in "Röhling's standard format" 9 × 13.5 or 13.5 × 9 cm, bears the date "1828" (Die Boosenburg bei Rüdesheim am Rhine ). This year the artist who designed the sheets, Johann Adolf Lasinsky , who lives near Koblenz , probably even made a trip to the Rhine (from Mainz to Cologne) on behalf of the publisher Friedrich Wilmans. The engraver (with a few exceptions) is the Swiss Rudolf Bodmer , who, as a highly specialized artist, carried out the graphic implementation in the so-called aquatint technique. With this, the artists Johann Adolf Lasinsky and the Swiss painter and copper engraver Rudolf Bodmer even found their first publisher in Röhling!

Röhling's albums with “Rhine Views” appeared in different editions and editions; the sheets could also be bought individually or in so-called bundles (bundles) in black and white or color. Obviously, however, these engravings were also obtained as preliminary products from other dealers and brought onto the market by them - in some cases even without any imprint. Franz Friedrich Röhling had obviously taken over by publishing so many books and book series. After just a few years he ran into financial difficulties. In 1832 he was already so deeply indebted that his competitor Karl Baedeker seized this opportunity and took over the better-located business premises as well as Röhling's inventory. Röhling himself then left Koblenz with a pass on May 6, 1832 in the direction of Hanau am Main. What he did in the following years is not known. It was not until 1841 that he was again proven to be a language teacher in Wiesbaden. Five years later, the unmarried and apparently childless Franz Friedrich Röhling died on December 10, 1846 in the local hospital.

The Koblenz bookseller and publisher Karl Baedeker not only took over many products from Röhling, but also - this time successfully - his ideas. In some cases, the old titles and ranges were even continued with the publisher's name changed to "Bädeker" or "Baedeker". The Klein'sche Rheinreise was even successfully brought onto the market in several editions. It was only later that Baedeker himself appeared as the author of this travel guide.

Despite his publishing bookstore, which only existed for a few years, Franz Friedrich Röhling - together with Hergt , Hériot , Hölscher and Baedeker - was one of the most important Koblenz publishers of the first half of the 19th century and also of the romanticism of the Rhine .

Literature and publications

• F. Röhling (Ed.): Prof. JA Klein: Rhine trip from Mainz to Cöln. Handbook for fast travelers on the Rhine . Koblenz 1828.
• Ms. Röhling (Ed.): Klein, JA: Rhine trip from Mainz to Cologne. With 12 views remarkably. Castles in outline, size 12 . Koblenz 1828.
• Röhling (Ed.): Rhine journey from Mainz to Cologne: With twelve lithographed views of strange castles etc. in outlines / historical, topographical, painterly edited by Professor Joh. Aug. Klein . Koblenz 1828 [Proof: GBV / joint library network, accessed on August 15, 2011.]
• Ms. Röhling (Ed.): Rhine journey from Mainz to Cologne. Historically, topographically, and pictorially edited by Prof. Joh. Aug. Klein. With twelve lithographed views of remarkable castles ec. in outline . Koblenz, with Ms. Röhling. 1828. [378 p.] [Proof: dilibri, Koblenz. [1] , accessed August 15, 2011.]
• Roehling (Ed.): Klein (le prof. J.-A.): Voyage du Rhin, de Mayence à Coblence , sous ses rapports historiques. Trad. par le prof. Lendroy. Coblence, Roehling, 1828, in 12 / avec 12 vues lithographed. 9 fr.
• F. Röhling (ed.): Friedrich Adolf Beck, school director in Neuwied: Description of the city of Neuwied. With a view and a plan of the city. size 12 . Coblenz: Röhling, 1828.
• F. Röhling (Ed.): Friedrich Adolf Beck: Description of the city of Neuwied. For strangers and Local people. With 1 view and 1 plan of Neuwied in its present condition, and with the French. Bridge jump in 1795 . 12. Coblenz 1828, Röhling.
• Ms. Röhling (Ed.): Souvenirs d'Ems et des environs. Dix vues en contours. Dessinés d'après nature et gravées par C. Bodmer , Koblenz: Ms. Röhling, undated [1828].
• F. Roehling (Ed.): Voyage du Rhin de Mayence à Cologne. Sous ses rapports historiques, topographiques et pittoresques, par le Professeur JA Klein, et traduit par J. Lendroy, Professeur à Offenbach, près Francfort sur le Mein. Avec 12 vues lithographiées des ruines remarquables etc. en contours , Coblence, chez F. Roehling. 1829. [Up to the First World War , 17 further editions appeared, from the 4th edition under the title "Les bords du rhin (after Schmitt 1996)].
• F. Roehling (Ed.): Coblence, sous ses rapports historiques et topographiques, d'après les documents relatifs, par JA Klein. Traduit par L. Lendroy. Extrait du Voyage du Rhin with supplement et 2 vues en contours . Koblenz 1829.
• F. Röhling (Ed.): Koblenz, historical = topographical, with the use of documentary information, presented by Professor Joh. Aug. Klein (excerpt from the Rhine journey with supplements and two etched views in outlines ). Koblenz, from Ms. Röhling 1829.
• F. Röhling (Ed.): Schiller's portrait, based on Graff's original painting, engraved by Scherff. Publicly declared by the son of the poet as the closest . (undated, undated)
• F. Röhling (Ed.): The Rhine Valley from Rüdesheim to Bonn. In picturesque views, especially of the knight's castles. According to nature signed by [!] JA Lasinsky. Etched in aqua tinta by R. Bodmer . Coblenz, F. Röhling 1829.
• Ms. Röhling (Ed.): The Rhine valley from Rüdesheim to Bonn. In picturesque views, especially of the knight's castles. Signed after nature. By [!] JA Lasinsky. In aqua tinta by R. Bodmer . Koblenz, Ms. Röhling. 1829 [Obviously these views of the Rhine (always?) Appeared in partial deliveries, e.g. B. 1 delivery in 12 sheets, loose.]
• F. Röhling (Hrsg.): The 12 views of the Rhine in outlines, especially printed on drawing paper . Koblenz 1829.
• Ms. Röhling (Ed.): The Rhine valley from Rüdesheim to Bonn. In picturesque views. Drawn from nature by JA Lasinsky, etched in aquatint by R. Bodmer . Coblence, Chez F. Röhling. (undated) [With publisher's address in French.]
• F. Röhling (Ed.): The Rhine valley from Rüdesheim to Bonn. In picturesque views. Drawn from nature by JA Lasinsky, etched in aquatint by R. Bodmer . Coblence, chez F. Röhling. Libraire and Marchand d'Estampes. Coblence (undated) [With changed publisher's address in French.]
• Ms. Röhling (?) (Ed.): Panorama of Coblenz and its surroundings. Taken from the Pfaffendorfer Höhe by Carl Bodmer, etched in aqua tinta by Rudolph Bodmer . Koblenz 1830 [From 1832 probably published by K. Baedeker.]
• VUES DU BORDS DU RHIN [The Rhine Valley from Mainz to Cologne] (o. Ed., O. Author., O. O., o. J.) [published 1832 or later] 44 old colored aquatint engravings in the format 9 × 13 , 5 cm or 13.5 × 9 cm. Of these 17 engravings from the publisher Fr. Röhling in Coblenz (Koblenz) and 27 engravings from the publisher K. Baedeker in Coblenz (Koblenz) with the publisher's address Ch. Baedeker or K. Baedeker, Coblenz. 4 sheets with incorrect Boedeker publishing address. The draftsman of all sheets is JA Lasinsky. The engravers are Rudolf Bodmer , Franz Hegi and Christian Meichelt . Numerous sheets with watermarks, such as B. 212, JW, JW ... TMAN, 182 .. or ... 2.
• LA VALLÉE DU RHIN de Rüdesheim à Bonn. En vues picturesque. Dessinés d'après nature par: J: A: Lasinsky, gravées à L'eau Forte [!] Par R. Bodmer (o. Ed., O. Author., O. O., o. J.) 33 sheets in black / white in the format 9 × 13.5 cm or 13.5 × 9 cm. With 7 engravings from the publisher Fr. Röhling and 26 engravings from the publisher K. Bädeker in Coblenz with publisher addresses Ms. Röhling, Coblenz or Ch. Baedeker or K. Baedeker, Coblenz. The draftsman is JA Lasinsky, the engraver is R. Bodmer and - contrary to the information in the text - Christian Meichelt.
• Views of the Rhine [The Rhine Valley between Mainz and Cologne] (o. Ed., O. Author., O. J., o. O.) 45 old gouached sheets. With 43 engravings from Verlag K. Baedeker, Coblenz (including 1 engraving with the publisher's address Boedeker and 1 further engraving in a different format 7.0 × 11.3 cm) and 2 engravings from Verlag Fr. Röhling, Coblenz. Drawers are JA Lasinsky, G. Müller and JJ Siegmund, engravers are R. Bodmer, Casp. Dikenman, F. Hegi, J. Sperli. J. Speerli and H. Siegfried. The volume with intent, colored and engl. ex libris (good books & good friends) also a flyleaf with the watermarks: 1833 and J. Whatman, Turkey Mill. Several sheets with corresponding watermarks.
• The Rhine valley from Rüdesheim to Bonn [cover title] 11 aquatint panels by R. Bodmer after JA Lasinsky. Leather folder with insert. 19 later prints from the original plates. Koblenz. Baedeker and Röhling [1834].
• Rudolf Schmidt: Ro [!] Hlingsche bookstore in Koblenz . In: German booksellers - German book printers. Contributions to a company history of the German book trade, 6 volumes in 1 volume. Hildesheim - New York 1979, p. 19. (Reprint of the Berlin and Eberswalde edition 1902–1908).
• Wolfgang Reiniger / Irene Faust (eds.): Bingen am Rhein - Pictures of an old town - Catalog of woodcuts, copper and steel engravings and the lithographs Bingen 1994.
• Michael Schmitt: The illustrated descriptions of the Rhine. Documentation of works and views from the Romantic period to the end of the 19th century (urban research: series C, sources, vol. 7) [716 p. With more than 10,000 references] Cologne, Weimar, Vienna 1996.
• Hans Joachim Bodenbach: VUES DU BORDS DU RHIN. A Rhine album from the early 19th century with aquatint engravings from the Koblenz publishers Fr. Röhling and K. Bädeker (Baedeker) in one volume - The views published by Röhling - (o. Ed., O. Author., O. O. , undated) In: Bonner Geschichtsblätter, Yearbook of the Bonner Heimat- und Geschichtsverein , Volume 49/50, Bonn 1999/2000 (2001), pp. 285–304, with 20 illustrations.
• Georg Jäger, Dieter Langewiesche, Wolfram Siemann (eds.): Verlag Röhling. In: History of the German book trade in the 19th and 20th centuries, Das Kaiserreich 1870-1918. Part I, Frankfurt am Main 2001, p. 533.
• Christoph Suin de Soutemard, Peter Kleber, Ulrich Offerhaus, Susanne Müller, Lydia Grossmann, Benedikt Bock, Miriam and Bertold Schmidt-Thomé, Barbara Koelges: Baedeker publishers and publishing houses in Koblenz - On the 150th anniversary of the death of Karl Baedeker (publications from the Rhineland State Library Center) Pfalz 9) Koblenz 2010.
• Peter Kleber: Baedeker's pioneer? The Koblenz book and art dealer Franz Friedrich Röhling 1827–1832 In: Christoph Suin de Soutemard (et al.): Baedeker publisher and publishing house in Koblenz - On the 150th anniversary of the death of Karl Baedeker (Writings of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Library Center 7) Koblenz 2010, Pp. 39-46.