Established in 1822 the Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co KG stands before you. A publishing giant. It began as a simple bookstore and lending library. Johann Friedrich Franckh its founder had a vision. He wanted to make knowledge accessible to everyone. This wasn’t just about selling books. It was about sharing knowledge.
His brother Friedrich Gottlob joined the business. They became Gebrüder Franckh. They embraced the Koenig printing press. This allowed them to publish works cheaply and widely. Their early publications focused on literature and encyclopedic works. They even championed young Swabian authors. Wilhelm Hauff and Eduard Mörike were among their early discoveries. They cleverly published popular foreign novels in their Kabinettsbibliothek series.
Friedrich Gottlob’s democratic views led to his arrest. He was involved in a conspiracy against the monarchy. He was eventually pardoned. The brothers’ success continued with high print runs of Belletristisches Ausland. Tragedy struck when Friedrich Gottlob died in 1845. Johann Friedrich continued the business until his death in 1865.
The company changed hands several times. In 1893 Walther Keller and Euchar Nehmann took over. They reunited many of the original Franckh holdings. They moved into a new building on Pfizerstraße 5 in 1908. That building is still part of the headquarters.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1903. They established the Kosmos-Gesellschaft der Naturfreunde. This led to the creation of the Kosmos magazine. It brought science to a wider audience. The magazine boasted over 100000 subscribers shortly after its launch. This signaled a shift towards natural science. It influenced the publisher’s focus even today. In 1909 the Sternbüchlein was born. Now known as Kosmos Himmelsjahr. It’s the best-selling astronomy yearbook in the German-speaking world.
The Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co KG expanded its offerings. It added experiment kits and games. Its first experiment kit Baukasten Elektro launched in 1922. It was the first of its kind globally. This solidified its reputation for educational materials.
The company adapted to the changing times. It faced the challenges of World War II and the subsequent rebuilding. It successfully navigated through these periods. It continued publishing in all fields. It focused on books that wouldn’t cause controversy.
In 1990 the company officially became Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG. This marked a new era of focus. It concentrated on core publishing areas. Later the internationally successful game Catan was added to the lineup. It expanded internationally and acquired Thames & Kosmos in the US.
Today the Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG is a powerhouse. It’s a testament to Johann Friedrich Franckh’s original vision. It’s an institution that has shared knowledge for two centuries. It continues to bring excitement to homes and classrooms across the globe. Walk through these doors and feel the weight of history and the thrill of discovery.