Oliwiasocz: Content in this edit is translated from the existing Polish Wikipedia article at 
l:Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera; see its history for attribution.
{{Infobox company
| image = Rudolf Wegner.jpg
| image_caption = [[Rudolf Wegner]]
| native_name = Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera
| native_name_lang = pl
| industry = publishing
| founded = 1917 (as a joint-stock company ''Polish Publishing House'')
| defunct = {{End date|1950}}
| hq_location = [[Poznań]]
| hq_location_country = [[Poland]]
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Ignacy Mościcki]]|[[Antoni Jakubski]]|[[Marian Kukiel]]|[[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]]|[[Roman Odzierzyński]]|[[Aleksander Litwinowicz]]}}
| owner = Rudolf Wegner
}}{{Short description|Polish publishing house active from 1917 to 1950}}
[[FileL Chopin Człowiek i Artysta.png|thumb|[[James Huneker]]: ''Chopin: The Man and His Music'' (Polish edition from 1922)]]
'''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''' ({{Lang-pl|Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera}}) was a [[Poland|Polish]] publishing house active from 1917 to 1950. It was founded as a [[joint-stock company]] by [[Rudolf Wegner (Poland)|Rudolf Wegner]] as ''Polish Publishing House'' ({{Lang-pl|Wydawnictwo Polskie}}), headquartered in [[Lviv]], and later in [[Poznań]]. In 1926, Wegner took over ownership and changed the name to ''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''. It was mainly focused on Polish and foreign literature. It had a number of publishing series, the most famous being the ''Nobel Laureates Library'' and ''Wonders of Poland''. It was characterized by great attention to the technical, literary, and graphic quality of its books, especially luxury bibliophile editions. The production output reached 300 new titles annually. During [[World War II]], it was relocated to [[Warsaw]] and sold its warehouse stocks. In 1941, the owner, Rudolf Wegner, passed away, and the company passed into the hands of his wife, Wanda, and daughter, [[Irena Rybotycka]]. The assets of the publishing house were practically completely destroyed during the [[Warsaw Uprising]]. After the war, it resumed operations, but in 1950, it was nationalized and liquidated. Its activity was continued on a relatively small scale by the emigrant ''Tern (Rybitwa) Book Polish Publishing House'' in [[London]] until the 1970s.
== History ==
=== From 1901 to 1914: origins ===
Rudolf Wegner began his publishing activity by founding a partnership with Zygmunt Rychliński in 1901 and acquiring a bookstore on [[Piotrkowska Street]] in [[Łódź]], which was a branch of the ''[[Gebethner i Wolff]]'' publishing house.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Michalewska |first=A. |year=1978 |title=Działalność wydawnicza Rudolfa Wegnera |journal=Roczniki Biblioteczne |language=pl |volume=XXII |pages=117–135}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Nowak |first=Adam |date=2008-12-12 |title="Cuda Polski", czyli Rudolf Wegner rediviva |url=http://rynek-ksiazki.pl/-wiadomosci...ski---czyli-rudolf-wegner-rediviva_18448.html |journal=Wiadomości Księgarskie |language=pl |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=80–85}}</ref> The company conducted intensive publishing activities, offering scientific and popular science books, textbooks, sheet music, fiction, as well as magazines such as the humorous ''Łodzianka'' and the professional ''Czasopismo Lekarskie''.<ref name=":0" /> In 1905, Wegner, probably due to political reasons (suspicions by the authorities of involvement in the [[Russian Revolution of 1905]]<ref name=":0" /> and distribution of books outside censorship),<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Kozarynowa |first=Zofia |title=Nagroda literacka im. Rudolfa Wegnera |publisher=Oficyna Poetów i Malarzy |year=1989 |isbn=0-948668-87-3 |location=London |language=pl |chapter=W służbie książki}}</ref> had to immediately leave the territory of the Russian partition. He settled in [[Lviv]] and started working at the [[Altenberg Publishing|Altenberg]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Michalewska |first=Anna |title=Słownik pracowników książki polskiej |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |year=1972 |editor-last=Treichel |editor-first=I. |location=Warsaw – Łódź |pages=941–942 |language=pl |chapter=Rudolf Wegner}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Pękalska |first=Marta |year=2000 |title=Wydawnictwo Polskie |journal=Wydawca |language=pl |volume=1–2 |pages=38–39}}</ref> and [[Ossolineum]] publishing houses.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
=== From 1917 to 1928: Polish Publishing House ===
In 1917, Wegner formed a joint-stock company, whose shareholders included [[Ignacy Mościcki]], [[Antoni Jakubski]], [[Marian Kukiel]], [[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]], [[Roman Odzierzyński]], and [[Aleksander Litwinowicz]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Rybotycka |first=Irena |year=1989 |title=Wspomnienie o Rudolfie Wegnerze, zasłużonym polskim wydawcy |journal=Przegląd Wielkopolski |language=pl |volume=3 |issue=9 |pages=22–25}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last=Zajączkowska |first=Mariola |date=1992-01-08 |title=Śladem R. Wegnera, zasłużonego wydawcy. Kto podejmie edycję Biblioteki Laureatów Nagrody Nobla |journal=Słowo Powszechne |language=pl}}</ref> The capital obtained allowed the establishment of the Polish Publishing House in November 1917, with Wegner as its director.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The headquarters of the new publishing house was established in [[Lviv]] at 15 Zyblikiewicza Street. In 1920, Wegner moved it to [[Poznań]], initially to premises at 5 [[Wolności Square]], lent by [[Jan Jachowski]], and then to 48 [[Święty Marcin Street]]. In the [[Polish Booksellers' Association]], the publishing house was registered at 6 Zwierzyniecka Street.<ref name=":0" />
Poznań was a calm city, much less destroyed by the war than Lviv and Warsaw,<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Rybotycka |first=Irena |title=Nagroda literacka im. Rudolfa Wegnera |publisher=Oficyna poetów i pisarzy |year=1989 |isbn=0-948668-87-3 |location=London |language=pl |chapter=Przemówienie Ireny Rybotyckiej, fundatorki nagrody}}</ref> with a well-developed printing and publishing industry. In these conditions, Wegner led the company to rapid development.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Rausz |first=Monika |year=2006 |title="Cuda Polski" Rudolfa Wegnera: historia edycji |url=http://sbsp.up.krakow.pl/article/download/965/pdf |journal=Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia ad Bibliothecarum Scientiam Pertinentia |language=pl |volume=4 |pages=156–166 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319090727/http://sbsp.up.krakow.pl/article/download/965/pdf |archive-date=2015-03-19}}</ref> Close cooperation was established with [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]. From 1920, publishing series began to appear. In 1921, [[Stanisław Lam (publisher)|Stanisław Lam]] became the manager and literary advisor of the publishing house. The first volume of the largest series of the publishing house, the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', was published at that time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> The publishing house intensified its activities, gradually reaching a level of about 300 titles per year. Its production was presented, among others, at the book exhibition in Poznań (1924) and the 2nd International Book Exhibition in [[Florence]] (1925). In 1926, Stanisław Wasylewski took over the editing of the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'',<ref name=":0" /> and a year later, he became the editor of the publishing house.<ref name=":4" />
=== From 1939 to 1945: World War II ===
After the Germans occupied Poznań in 1939, Wegner's publishing house was closed by the occupation authorities,<ref name=":1" /> and the owner was expelled from Poznań.<ref name=":2" /> The books from the publishing house's warehouses in Poznań and Lviv were earmarked for destruction by the occupiers. Valuable private collections were burned by the Germans in the Wolności Square in Poznań.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />
Wegner settled in Warsaw and continued his activities under the name ''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''.<ref name=":0" /> First, he undertook efforts to save the publishing house's resources in Poznań. Initial attempts, including those by the bookseller and publisher Gustaw Tetzlaw, failed.{{Efn|Gustaw Tetzlaw was co-owner of one of the 3 largest bookselling and publishing companies in pre-war Poznań, ''W. Górski and G. Tetzlaw Bookstore''. Tetzlaw's efforts to get permission from the occupying German authorities to export his own company's books to Warsaw were also unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pazyra |first=Stanisław |title=Z dziejów książki polskiej w czasie drugiej wojny światowej |publisher=Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy |year=1970 |location=Warsaw |pages=30–33 |language=pl}}</ref>}} Wegner then sought help from [[Stefan Szpinger]], who had previously successfully organized the transportation of collections from the Poznań [[Printing House and Bookstore of St. Adalbert]] to Warsaw by rail. All materials from the warehouse of Polish Publishing House were requisitioned by the Germans and haphazardly transferred to a railway warehouse. The entire stock was seized by the German Bank, which took over the pre-war credit of the publishing house.{{Efn|The value of the seized 300 tons of books destined for milling at a paper mill in [[Czerwonak]] near Poznań was estimated by the bank at 4,000 German marks (about 8,000 PLN).<ref name=":5">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=167–177}}</ref>}} Wegner managed to quickly repay the entire debt, regaining the ability to dispose of the warehouse's resources, and Szpinger, with great difficulty, obtained approvals from the ''Propaganda Abteilung'', ''Presse Amt'', and [[Gestapo]] for the removal of books. A condition imposed by the Gestapo was Szpinger's personal commitment to organize the collections after transportation to Warsaw and to hand over to the German authorities the titles listed as banned books. The transport to Warsaw was carried out by the transportation company ''[[C. Hartwig Gdynia|C. Hartwig]]''.
In addition to the warehouse resources, Wegner had substantial stocks of books ready for sale in the basement of his house on Słowacki Street, which, coincidentally, escaped the attention of the Germans. Szpinger organized a group of friendly booksellers from the Bookstore of St. Adalbert to pack the hidden books and then conducted a daring operation to transport them (also with the help of ''C. Hartwig'') to the railway warehouse and mostly include them in the transport to Warsaw. Part of the stock was allocated for sale in Poznań, obtaining funds to cover the Poznań expenses related to the operation (Wegner's funds from Warsaw could not be used for this purpose, as the transport of cash from the [[General Government]] to the Reich territories was prohibited). In total, about 300 tons of books, loose printer's sheets, and supplies of clean paper were transported from Poznań, occupying 15 railway wagons.<ref name=":5" /> In this venture, Szpinger was assisted by Julian Stefański, Teodor Bielawski,<ref name=":0" /> and Stefan Szczypiński, as well as volunteer booksellers from the Bookstore of St. Adalbert.<ref name=":5" /> In Warsaw, the recovered materials were placed in a warehouse at 6/8 Okrąg Street. The books were distributed both in the official circulation and supplied to underground bookstores. The publishing house also printed small quantities of missing parts of Ossendowski's books on salvaged paper.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=181–182}}</ref>
Stefan Szpinger earned recognition and friendship from Wegner with his selfless transport action, who appointed him as the manager of the publishing house and granted him full authority to conduct all affairs.<ref name=":5" /> On 13 July 1941, Rudolf Wegner died of a heart attack.<ref name=":7" /> The publishing house was taken over by his wife, Wanda, and daughter, [[Irena Rybotycka]], and was still managed by Stefan Szpinger, who, among other things, concluded negotiations with [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], obtaining exclusivity for Polish Publishing House to publish her works. The most valuable part of the preserved books was transferred to a new warehouse at [[New World Street, Warsaw|New World Street]].<ref name=":0" /> The publishing house's activities during the occupation were profitable due to the high demand for Polish books. Apart from patriotic motives, they were treated as a capital investment and fetched very high prices on the secondary market; for example, the price of Disslowa's cookbook reached up to 1,000 PLN per copy. Several tens of thousands of stockpiled volumes were excluded from sale, deemed by Szpinger and the company's owners as assets intended to restart the publishing house after the war.<ref name=":8" />
The German authorities hindered Polish bookselling activities, further harassing Wegner's company with inspections in bookstores. They also established a company with the misleading name ''Polish Publishing House – Polnische Verlag'', publishing, among other things, books of a pornographic nature, aiming to discredit the real Wegner publishing house.<ref name=":0" /> The Germans also enforced Szpinger's Poznań obligation to hand over the banned books of the publishing house to the authorities. However, only one incomplete "platform" of some titles by Bandrowski and Rodziewiczówna was likely handed over.<ref name=":9">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=187–189}}</ref>
During the [[Warsaw Uprising]], books from the Wegner publishing house's warehouse on Okrąg Street were distributed to the insurgents for reading. Soon, the remaining books were used to build barricades, where they were destroyed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The warehouse on Okrąg Street was hit by a bomb and burned down; likewise, the second warehouse on New World Street burned down with all the books. As a result, the publishing house lost all its resources.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=214–215}}</ref>
=== Post-war period ===
==== From 1945 to 1948: Germany ====
[[File:Shakespeare. Szekspir w opowiadaniach dla młodzieży 1948.png|thumb|Title page of the book ''[[Tales from Shakespeare]]'' edited by [[Irena Rybotycka]], Germany 1947/1948]]
In November 1945, Irena Rybotycka left Poland for the American occupation zone in Germany, where she reunited with her husband, Colonel [[Tomasz Rybotycki]], a liaison officer of the [[Polish Military Mission]]. Both of them then began efforts to resume the activities of Polish Publishing House R. Wegner to provide access to Polish books for Polish war refugees. Tomasz Rybotycki became the head of the Welfare and Printing Team established within the Polish Military Mission, and Irena Rybotycka, working with the [[Polish Red Cross]], obtained an allocation of paper from the [[United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration]]. The Rybotyckis obtained permission to print books on religious and educational topics; the proposed set included 12 titles.<ref name=":7" /> They also managed to recover the old printing plates from [[Nuremberg]], where Rudolf Wegner printed children's books.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |last=Dippel |first=Stefan |title=O księgarzach, którzy przeminęli |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |location=Wrocław |page=187 |language=pl}}</ref> The resumed Polish Publishing House R. Wegner began its operations in Nuremberg in 1945, and books started to be published at the beginning of 1946. After a few months, the Rybotycki couple had to suddenly leave Germany due to the takeover of Polish facilities by the communist government. However, Tomasz Rybotycki managed to complete the printing of the planned titles,<ref name=":7" /> which were published until 1948.<ref name=":0" />
==== From 1947 to 1974: England ====
After leaving Germany, the Rybotycki couple relocated to [[London]]. There, they received royalties for books published by Polish Publishing House R. Wegner during the war by the emigrant Ministry of Education. Together with Wanda Rybotycka, in 1947 they founded ''Tern (Rybitwa) Book Co. Ltd.'',{{Efn|''Rybitwa'' (English: Tern) was an acronym for the surname and first names of the founders of the publishing house: Rybotycki, Irena, Tomasz, Wanda.}} primarily publishing old titles from Polish Publishing House R. Wegner, including selected books from the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' and ''Wonders of Poland'' series.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> The reissue of [[Maria Disslowa]]'s cookbook ''Jak gotować'' achieved the greatest success, also published in English as ''Continental European Cooking''. New titles included [[Zofia Kossak-Szczucka]]'s ''Heritage'' and Sir [[Philip Gibbs]]' political novel ''No Price For Freedom'' to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.{{Efn|Philip Gibbs wrote this novel on the initiative of Irena Rybotycka. The original title, ''No Price for Freedom'', and translations have circulated in a total print run of nearly 500,000 copies.}} Rybitwa Publishing ceased its operations in 1974 after the death of T. Rybotycki.<ref name=":7" />
==== From 1947 to 1950: Poland ====
Since 1947, Polish Publishing House R. Wegner resumed its operations in Poland. In the absence of the owners, the company was managed by a representative, Anna Łempicka. The headquarters were located in Warsaw at 10 Cecylia Śniegocka Street. They resumed the publication of several volumes from the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' series, novels by Rodziewiczówna, as well as books for children and youth. The new editions were illustrated by [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]] and [[Jan Marcin Szancer]].<ref name=":0" />
In 1950, the publishing house was liquidated by the decision of the Polish authorities at the time, and the publishing rights were taken over by the [[State Publishing Institute PIW]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
== Description of activity ==
The primary goal of Polish Publishing House was to offer high-quality books. They were carefully crafted during a long publishing cycle, sometimes lasting from 4 to 6 years, and in some cases even up to 10 years (such as [[Maria Disslowa]]'s ''Jak gotować''). The books were visually appealing, with numerous illustrations usually done using the [[copper-plate]] technique.<ref name=":0" /> They had artistic bindings and a consistent appearance within each publishing series or for a particular author.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Popowska |first=Jadwiga |date=1939-01-06 |title=U wydawcy |url=http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=60194&from=publication |journal=Dziennik Poznański |language=pl |volume=81 |issue=5 |page=11 |access-date=2013-09-16}}</ref> Leading Polish writers were employed for translations from foreign languages and for book editing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> The high level of illustration and graphic design was ensured by artists such as [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]], [[Ernest Czerper]], [[Rafał Malczewski]], [[Kamil Mackiewicz]], [[Tadeusz Lipski]], [[Teodor Rożankowski]], [[Leon Wyczółkowski]], [[Jan Kilarski]], and [[Jan Bułhak]].<ref name=":6" />
Printing was done on good quality paper, with later editions using special wood-free paper. Bibliophile albums were printed on [[Handmade paper|handmade]] or Chinese paper. To enhance production, various font styles, typographic layouts, and formats were used, with colorful [[Dust jacket|dust jackets]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":10" /> The quality of the books from Polish Publishing House is evidenced by letters received by Rudolf Wegner:<ref name=":10" />
{{Quote|text=Thank you for the two beautiful copies of ''Dusza Zaczarowana'', kindly sent to me. I would like us to have in France the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' so artistically and diversely published.|author=[[Romain Rolland]]|source=October 11, 1924}}{{Quote|text=I have finally received a copy of the Polish edition of ''Julius Caesar'' [...]. Unable to judge the value of the translation, I admire the magnificence of the publication. In terms of printing, paper, and illustrations, it is the most splendid edition of my works. It has brought me much satisfaction, and I extend my congratulations to you.|author=[[Guglielmo Ferrero]]|source=December 21, 1935}}{{Quote|text=Speaking about this publication [''Dzieje Papieży''], I can only note that this edition makes an extraordinary impression. The paper, printing, binding are very good. Special commendation should be given to the illustrations, which are excellent in both selection and execution technique. I must confess frankly that this book in terms of illustration far surpassed the German edition.|author=[[Franz Xaver Seppelt]]|source=January 9, 1937}}
The books were usually offered in two versions, paperback and "bound" (also known as "luxury").<ref name=":6" /> Their prices were relatively high, up to 14 PLN for a hardcover book and 4–5 PLN cheaper for the paperback version. The cost of purchasing ''Wonders of Poland'' was even higher, reaching up to 20 PLN,<ref name=":0" /> which, however, considering the particularly attractive format and very high quality of the books, was often seen as a moderate price.<ref name=":4" /> Despite the high prices, the books sold quickly and were often reprinted.<ref name=":0" /> It was not until 1928 that high-volume printing of cheaper books (3 PLN per copy) intended for less demanding readers began.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
In addition, Polish Publishing House offered luxury albums,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> priced at 100–200 PLN per copy. They were mostly purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland for representational purposes, as well as by bibliophiles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
The publishing house did not have its own bookstore. The editions were distributed mainly through [[Gebethner i Wolff]] bookstores, as well as by the [[Książnica-Atlas]] company, and also through the [[Dom Książki Polskiej]] in Warsaw.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
== Printer's mark of the publishing house ==
The [[printer's mark]] of the publishing house underwent several changes. Initially, it had a circular shape, similar in style to the printer's mark of [[Edward Wende (publisher)|E. Wende]] (which was Wegner's first place of employment). From the mid-1920s, the marks took the form of intertwined letters ''P'' and ''W'', positioned one above the other. In some books, the mark was not included (for example, in the ''Wonders of Poland'' series).<gallery widths="100" heights="120" caption="Examples of printer's marks in books of the Polish Publishing House">
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Sztuka Walcząca 1923.png|[[Stanisław Baczyński]], ''Sztuka Walcząca'', 1923
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Antychryst.Tragedja w trzech aktach 1925.png|[[Karol Hubert Rostworowski]], ''Antychryst. Tragedja w trzech aktach'', 1925
File:Benito Mussolini - Pamiętnik z czasów wojny 06.jpg|[[Benito Mussolini]], ''Memoir of the War'', 1931 (pre-title page)
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Gawlewicz. Plotka. Okładka.png|[[Marian Gawalewicz]], ''Plotka'', 1931
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - W sercu dzungli 1935.png|Stanisław Mycielski, ''W sercu dżungli'', 1935
</gallery>
=== ''Kotwica'' symbol ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; border: 1px;"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
| style="width:150px; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |[[File:Zoska odzn bt.png|alt=Sign of Fighting Poland on the badge of the Zośka Battalion|114x114px]]
| style="width:150px; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |[[File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Polowanie na potwory morskie1927 okładka.png|alt=Printer<nowiki>'s mark from the back cover of the book ''Hunting Sea Monsters''</nowiki>, 1927|163x163px]]
|-
| style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |Sign of Fighting Poland on the badge of the [[Zośka Battalion]]
| style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |Printer's mark from the back cover of the book ''Hunting Sea Monsters'', 1927
|}
|}
In the early years of the German occupation, [[Jerzy Jabłonowski]] (former aide-de-camp to Marshal [[Józef Piłsudski]]) approached Irena Rybotycka with a request to use the publishing house's printer's mark displayed on the cover of the book ''Polowanie na potwory morskie'' (English: ''Hunting Sea Monsters'') as a symbol of Poland's resistance against the occupant:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geneza koncepcji graficznej Kotwicy jako znaku Polski Walczącej |url=https://users.man.poznan.pl/msob/ZnakPolskiWalczacej.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=users.man.poznan.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
{{Quote|text=[Jerzy Jabłonowski]: You know... Poland is fighting – that's clear, but we still need our own symbol, emblem, crest, or recognizable sign, like a signature or seal. These two initials ''PW'' artistically intertwined as our own sign. Your company, Polish Publishing House, has the same initials ''WP'' as our ''PW''. Look at your mark on the cover: the initials stylized into the shape of an anchor (an anchor is a symbol of hope). I can't imagine a better combination of these two letters, as on the cover of your book. What would you say if we used it as the emblem of Fighting Poland? Even the title of the book fits. After all, we're only hunting monsters in the name of historical justice.|author=[[Irena Rybotycka]]|title=''Znak Polski Walczącej''}}
During the war, part of the Polish population unequivocally associated the graphic design of the ''[[Kotwica]]'' symbol with the printer's mark of Polish Publishing House.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal |last=Łysiak |first=Waldemar |author-link=Waldemar Łysiak |date=2013-08-04 |title=Polska Walcząca |journal=Do Rzeczy |language=pl |volume=27 |page=99}}</ref> The similarity – even the identity<ref name=":11" /> – of both symbols also caught the attention of the [[Gestapo]], who conducted a raid on the publishing house and ordered the obfuscation of the printer's mark in all books intended for distribution.<ref name=":9" />
== Publisher's profile ==
[[File:Jak gotować. Maria Disslowa.PNG|thumb|[[Maria Disslowa]]: ''Jak gotować'' (1931 or 1938)]]
The publishing house primarily focused on literature, both Polish and foreign. In its early years, it mainly published contemporary novels by Polish authors, including [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Marian Gawalewicz]], [[Stefan Grabiński]], [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], [[Wacław Sieroszewski]], [[Jerzy Turnau]], and [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]. Additionally, it released textbooks and books covering diverse topics such as veterinary science, agriculture, industry, and politics.<ref name=":0" /> Series with thematic focuses became a hallmark of the company's publishing plans. The first series, ''Gawędy o Dawnym Obyczaju. Wybór ciekawych pamiętników XVIII i XIX w.'' (English: ''Conversations on Old Customs: Selection of Interesting Memoirs from the 18th and 19th Centuries''), began in 1920. The following year, Stanisław Lam initiated the editing of the extensive series ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', which showcased the works of the most outstanding foreign writers from 1921 to 1939.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
Children's literature was represented by series such as ''Książki Obrazkowe'' (English: ''Picture Books''), ''Bajki i Baśnie'' (English: ''Fables and Fairy Tales''), or the very popular ''Bajki Polskie Wujka Czesia'' (English: ''Polish Tales by Uncle Czesio'') by [[Czesław Kędzierski]]. Numerous travel and adventure books were aimed at young adults, such as the series ''Świat Podróży i Przygód'' (English: ''World of Travel and Adventures'').<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
Among the many books published outside of series, some notable titles include:
* [[Maria Disslowa]]'s ''Jak gotować'' (English: ''How to Cook''), Poznań, 1930, a comprehensive guide to cooking and entertaining.
* Complete works of:
** [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]] – 36 volumes (during World War II, the publishing house obtained exclusive rights to publish the author's works)
** [[Józef Weyssenhoff]] – only 3 volumes were released, numbers 1, 2, and 7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weyssenhoff, Józef (1860-1932) |url=http://alpha.bn.org.pl/search*pol/X?SEARCH=a:(Weyssenhoff) and t:(Dzieła)&SORT=D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2015031...?SEARCH=a:(Weyssenhoff) and t:(Dzieła)&SORT=D |archive-date=2015-03-19 |access-date=2013-09-09 |website=Katalog główny BN |language=pl}}</ref>
Luxurious bibliophile albums included:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
* [[Camille Mauclair]]'s ''Florence'' translated by L. Staff, Lviv – Poznań, 1926.
* [[Jerzy Mycielski]] and S. Wasylewski's ''Polish Portraits of Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun'' ''1755–1842'', Lviv – Poznań, 1927. The book with 24 illustrations produced by the [[Heliography|heliograph]] technique was issued in an edition of 1,100 numbered copies, in a format of 31×24 cm, on handmade paper. This paper was supplied to the publishing house and bore [[Watermark|watermarks]] from the manufacturer – Mirkowski Paper Factory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Podpłońska |first=Elżbieta |title=Jerzy Mycielski, Stanisław Wasylewski: Portrety polskie Elżbiety Vigee-Lebrun (1755-1842) Lwów – Poznań. Wydawnictwo Polskie 1927. MNki/ Bibl/sygn. 30897. (zakup 1990 rok) |url=https://mnki.pl/pl/obiekt_tygodnia/2024/strony/1 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=mnki.pl |language=pl}}</ref> Two other editions of the book were also released in different formats, one on Chinese paper, and the other described as a "copy of the luxury edition" (1928).
* [[Joseph Gregor]] and [[René Fülöp-Miller]]'s ''American Theater and Cinema: Two Images from the History of Culture'' translated by S. Wasylewski, Poznań, 1931.
* [[Franciszek Ksawery Seppelt]] and [[Klemens Löffler]]'s ''History of Popes'', Poznań, 1936.
=== Publishing series ===
==== ''Conversations on Old Customs: Selection of Interesting Memoirs from the 18th and 19th Centuries'' ====
This was the first series of the Polish Publishing House, published in 1920–1930, and was compiled and edited by [[Stanisław Wasylewski]].
==== ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' ====
[[File:Bibljoteka Laureatów Nobla.png|left|thumb|Logo of the series]]
[[File:Księga dżungli-okładka.jpg|thumb|[[Rudyard Kipling]]: ''[[The Jungle Book]]'' (Polish edition from 1923)]]
[[File:Romain Rolland. Wycieczka w krainę muzyki przeszłości.png|thumb|[[Romain Rolland]]: ''Musicians of the Past'' (Polish edition from 1924)]]
Polish Publishing House made its mark with the groundbreaking series titled ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', initiated in 1921 with the publication of [[Romain Rolland]]'s novel ''[[Colas Breugnon (novel)|Colas Breugnon]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> The idea for the series stemmed from Wegner's observation that most authors he intended to publish in Polish translations were [[Nobel laureates]].<ref name=":7" /> From 1921 to 1926, the series was edited by Stanisław Lam, with later editorial oversight by Stanisław Wasylewski.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Kowalska |first=Marzena |url=http://zbc.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |title=Dokąd zmierzamy? Książka i jej czytelnik |date= |publisher=Książnica Pomorska im. Stanisława Staszica |year=2008 |isbn=978-83-87879-70-9 |editor-last=Gaziński |editor-first=Radosław |series=Bibliotekarza Zachodniopomorskiego |volume=IV |location=Szczecin |pages=109–126 |language=pl |chapter=Literackie serie wydawnicze w latach 1921–1999 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131002....szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-02}}</ref> [[Tadeusz Lipski]] and [[Jan Marcin Szancer]] were responsible for the graphic design, while illustrations were executed by [[Ernest Czerper]] and [[Teodor Rożankowski]], and covers were designed by [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]]. Translators included [[Józef Birkenmajer]], [[Czesław Kędzierski]], [[Leopold Staff]], [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Florian Sobieniowski]], [[Franciszek Mirandola]], and [[Stanisław Wasylewski]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12" /> This selection of translators and editors allowed for the publication of books that were not inferior in quality, appearance, or literary value to the originals. The thoughtful selection of authors and their works, along with the scale of the series, made it unique on a European scale.<ref name=":0" /> In Poland, which had only regained independence a few years earlier, the series was particularly valuable due to the very limited availability of foreign-language literature in Polish.<ref name=":7" />
The series included works by the following [[List of Nobel laureates in Literature|Nobel laureates in literature]]:<ref name=":12" />
* [[Maurice Maeterlinck]] – 11 titles, totaling 18 editions
* [[Knut Hamsun]] – 9 titles, totaling 15 editions
* [[Rudyard Kipling]] – 8 titles, totaling 15 editions (Polish Publishing House had exclusive rights to publish Kipling in Poland)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]] – 8 titles, totaling 9 editions
* [[Selma Lagerlöf]] – 6 titles, totaling 9 editions{{Efn|Selma Lagerlöf was convinced that publishing her book in Poland would be scarce, and she waived her salary on the first edition.<ref name=":5" />}}
* [[Karl Adolph Gjellerup|Karl Gjellerup]] – 5 titles, totaling 8 editions
* [[Paul Heyse]] – 3 titles
* [[Henrik Pontoppidan]] – 3 titles, totaling 4 editions
* [[Romain Rolland]] – 3 titles, totaling 14 volumes and editions (''Dusza zaczarowana'' was originally published in 3 volumes, later as one volume; ''Jan Krzysztof'' – 4 volumes)
* [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]] – 2 titles, totaling 3 editions
* [[Carl Spitteler]] – 2 titles, totaling 3 editions
* [[Grazia Deledda]] – 2 titles
* [[Gerhart Hauptmann]] – 2 titles
* [[Stanisław Reymont]] – 1 title, 4 editions
* [[Jacinto Benavente]] – 1 title
* [[Rudolf Christoph Eucken|Rudolf Eucken]] – 1 two-volume title
* [[Anatole France]] – 1 title
* [[Verner von Heidenstam]] – 1 title
* [[Thomas Mann]] – 1 title
* [[George Bernard Shaw]] – 1 title
* [[W. B. Yeats|William Butler Yeats]] – 1 title
By 1939, 80 volumes of the series had been published. All were numbered, had the same 8° format, graphic design, content layout on covers, and a unique graphic symbol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12" /> The entire edition was bound by the ''[[Przesławski i Cierniak Company]]'', and in 1929, it was showcased at the [[Universal National Exhibition]] in Poznań.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1929 |title=Przechadzki po P.W.K., Wśród pięknych opraw książek |journal=Polska Gazeta Introligatorska |language=pl |issue=6}}</ref>
After the war, some books from the series were reissued in Warsaw (1947–1950) and London.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> In 1992, Irena Rybotycka offered to waive royalties if the series were resumed and continued in Poland, under the condition that books include a note about Rudolf Wegner and the origin of the series.<ref name=":14" />
==== Monographic studies ====
* {{Cite book |last=Kowalska |first=Marzena |url=http://zbc.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |title=Dokąd Zmierzamy? Książka i jej czytelnik |publisher=Książnica Pomorska im. Stanisława Staszica |year=2008 |isbn=978-83-87879-70-9 |editor-last=Gaziński |editor-first=Radosław |series=Bibliotekarz Zachodniopomorski |volume=IV |location=Międzyzdroje |pages=109–126 |language=pl |chapter=Literackie serie wydawnicze w latach 1921–1999 |access-date=2016-02-24 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130601....szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-01}}
==== ''World of Travel and Adventures'' ====
The highly popular series ''World of Travel and Adventures'' was published from 1925 onwards, with [[Czesław Kędzierski]] serving as its editor. True to its title, the series featured travel and adventure novels, most often with a maritime theme. Authors included [[Robert Louis Stevenson]], [[Mark Twain]], [[James Fenimore Cooper]], [[Edgar Allan Poe]], and [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]].<ref name=":0" />
==== ''Epics and Legends'' ====
A short series published between 1926 and 1927, comprising 3 titles concerning [[Francis of Assisi|St. Francis of Assisi]], [[Antarah ibn Shaddad]], and [[The Buddha|Buddha]].
==== ''Library of Polish Authors'' ====
This series, started in 1928,<ref name=":0" /> was intended to present the works of young, contemporary Polish authors to readers.<ref name=":7" /> Among them were [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Jerzy Kossowski]], [[Kornel Makuszyński]], [[Stanisław Wasylewski]], [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]], [[Jan Wiktor (writer)|Jan Wiktor]], [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], and [[Julian Wołoszynowski]]. Within the series, books authored by [[Wacław Berent]], [[Marian Gawalewicz]], [[Ignacy "Sewer" Maciejowski]], [[Adam Krechowiecki]], and [[Aleksander Świętochowski]] were also reissued.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" />
==== ''Monographs of Great Figures and Historical Periods'' ====
This series, published between 1928 and 1935, comprised 10 volumes containing monographs of historical figures, well-known Polish and foreign authors, as well as historical novels and studies. These included works on:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
* Historical figures:
** [[Emil Ludwig]], ''Napoleon'' (translated by L. Staff), Poznań, 1928
** [[Kazimierz Waliszewski]], ''Catherine II'' (translated by S. Wasylewski), Poznań, 1929
** [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]], ''Lenin'', Poznań, 1930
** [[Louis Bertrand (novelist)|Louis Bertrand]], ''Louis XIV'' (translated by S. Wasylewski), Poznań, 1931
* Literary figures:
** [[Tadeusz Pini]], ''Krasiński. Life and Works'', Poznań, 1928
** [[Stanisław Adamczewski]], ''Insatiable Heart. Book about Żeromski'', Poznań, 1930.
** [[Andrzej Tretiak]], ''Lord Byron'', Poznań, 1930
* Historical periods:
** [[Julian Wołoszynowski]], ''The Year 1863'', Poznań, 1931
** [[Guglielmo Ferrero]], ''The Greatness and Fall of Rome''; Vol. 1 ''Conquest'', Vol. 2 ''Julius Caesar'' (translated by L. Staff), Poznań, 1935
==== ''Wonders of Poland'' ====
[[File:Jerzy Smoleński. Morze i Pomorze (Cuda Polski) 1928 s. 5.png|thumb|[[Jerzy Smoleński]]: ''Sea and Pomerania'' (1928)]]
[[File:Ferdynand Ossendowski - Polesie - 1934 - title page.jpg|thumb|[[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]]: ''Polesie'' (1934)]]
[[File:Ferdynand Ossendowski - Puszcze polskie - 1953 - title page.jpg|thumb|Ferdynand Ossendowski: ''Polish Forests'' (1936)]]
The full name of the series was ''Miracles of Poland – Natural Monuments – Monuments of Labor – Historical Landmarks'' ({{Lang-pl|Cuda Polski – Pomniki Przyrody – Pomniki Pracy – Zabytki Dziejów}}) and it had a geographical character. Alongside the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', it was the prestigious and most popular series of the publishing house. It was the result of Wegner's extensive analysis of the global publishing market. The French ''Collection les Beaux Pays'' published by J. Rey in [[Grenoble]] had the greatest influence on the final shape of the series.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
The motto of the series was ''This is Poland – our homeland'' ([[Aleksander Fredro]]). Its goal was to promote patriotic values in Poland, so the publishing house was not focused on financial gain in this case, and the books were distributed largely outside the market. Government agencies used ''Wonders of Poland'' (like the publisher's bibliophilic items) to create a positive image of Poland abroad. It began in 1928, planned for 20 volumes, and 14 were published before the outbreak of the war. In 1939, volume 15 titled ''Volhynia'' was being prepared.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
The ''Wonders of Poland'' were produced with particular care and attractiveness. All volumes had a consistent format (21×16 cm), graphic layout designed by [[Jan Bułhak]], and a style of binding (designed by [[Ernest Czerper]])<ref name=":0" /> and illustrations. They were printed in uniform font on the same special wood-free paper. Bułhak was also responsible for preparing the photographs – many of his own – illustrating the books. They were produced using the labor-intensive [[heliography]] technique. The maps were authored by Rudolf Wegner's son-in-law, Colonel Tomasz Rybotycki.<ref name=":4" /> [[Jan Kilarski]], [[Kamil Mackiewicz]], [[Rafał Malczewski]], [[Teodor Rożankowski]], and [[Leon Wyczółkowski]]'s works were used for the covers.<ref name=":0" /> Each volume took about 4–6 years to prepare.<ref name=":10" />
The production process was quite complex because printing was done by 4 different printing houses: ''[[Concordia (printer)|Concordia]]'' in Poznań (text), ''Zakłady Graficzne Biblioteki Polskiej'' in [[Bydgoszcz]] (heliographic illustrations, [[rotogravure]] printing), and [[Saint Adalbert Printing House|''Saint Adalbert Printing House'']] in Poznań and ''National Printing House'' in [[Kraków]] (covers).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
The ''Wonders of Poland'' were highly popular, frequently reissued and reprinted, but the lack of volume numbering and publication dates complicates bibliographic analysis. The print runs of individual editions are also unknown. Selected volumes were reissued by units under the jurisdiction of the Polish government-in-exile (''Lviv'', [[Jerusalem]] 1944; ''Sea and Pomerania'', Jerusalem 1946), and later by the Rybotycki couple, both in [[Nuremberg]] (fragments) and London (''Polish Forests'' with an afterword ''Faithful Forest'' by [[Zofia Kossak-Szczucka|Zofia Kossak]] about the Polish partisan movement 1940–1944, London 1953; ''Between the Niemen and the Dzvina'' with an afterword ''Faithful Land'' by [[Antoni Bogusławski]], London 1955),<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jagodziński |first=Zdzisław |date=2000-04-12 |title=W pierwszą rocznicę zgonu Ireny Rybotyckiej. Krzewicielka polskiej książki |journal=Dziennik Polski |language=pl |location=London |page=6}}</ref> as well as in Poland – through Anna Łempicka.
The series included 4 monographs of Polish cities and 10 monographs of regions:<ref name=":0" />
* Cities:
** [[Aleksander Janowski]]: ''Warsaw'' (1930)
** [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]: ''Lviv'' (1931)
** [[Jerzy Remer]]: ''Vilnius'' (1934)
** [[Jan Kilarski]]: ''Gdańsk'' (1938), also published in English
* Regions:
** [[Jerzy Smoleński]]: ''Sea and Pomerania'' (1928), also published in English
** Jerzy Smoleński: ''Greater Poland'' (1930)
** [[Gustaw Morcinek]]: ''Silesia'' (1933), also published in English
** [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski]]: ''Polesie'' (1934)
** [[Rafał Malczewski]]: ''Tatra Mountains and Podhale'' (1935)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Polish Forests'' (1936)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Hutsul Region, Gorgany, and Chornohora'' (1936)
** [[Aleksander Patkowski]]: ''Sandomierz Region. Świętokrzyskie Mountains'' (1938)
** [[Tadeusz Łopalewski]]: ''Between the Niemen and the Dzvina. Vilnius and Novogrudok Region'' (1938)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Carpathian Mountains and Subcarpathia'' (1939)
* Unpublished:
** [[Ksawery Pruszyński]]: ''Volhynia''
** [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]: ''Polish Life in the 19th Century''
During the [[Polish People's Republic]] era, books in the series concerning the [[Kresy|Eastern Borderlands]] were put on an index. War losses were compounded by library policies, which disposed of "inconvenient" titles. Some books were also stolen, and the surviving copies are often damaged. As a result, books in good condition became very valuable, with auction prices for some series reaching up to 500 PLN in the early 21st century. Many volumes of the series were reissued after 1989 by several publishing houses, but the quality of these books differs significantly from the original versions.<ref name=":13" />
==== Monographic studies ====
* {{Cite journal |last=Rausz |first=Monika |year=2006 |title="Cuda Polski" Rudolfa Wegnera: historia edycji |journal=Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia ad Bibliothecarum Scientiam Pertinentia |language=pl |volume=4 |pages=156–166}}<ref name=":4" />
* {{Cite journal |last=Nowak |first=Adam |date=2008-12-12 |title="Cuda Polski", czyli Rudolf Wegner rediviva |journal=Wiadomości Księgarskie |language=pl |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=80–85}}<ref name=":13" />
==== ''Collected Works'' by Maria Rodziewiczówna ====
The Polish Publishing House released all the works of the highly popular [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]]. By 1939, 36 volumes had been published. During the occupation, the publishing house obtained exclusive rights to publish the author's works. The books were reissued by the emigrant government during the war, and later by the Rybotyckis – in Nuremberg, London, and Warsaw.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=168, 183–184}}</ref>
==== ''Yellow Books'' ====
[[File:Stanisław hr. Mycielski - W sercu dżungli - okładka.png|thumb|[[Stanisław Mycielski]]: ''In the Heart of the Jungle'' (1933)]]
This series consisted of cheaper crime novels by contemporary Polish and foreign authors, inspired by the German ''Die Gelben Bücher'' (''Ullstein Verlag''). Despite their lighter, often criminal themes, they were positively reviewed. Between 1928 and 1934, over 40 volumes were published in print runs of up to 10,000 copies. Unlike the publications discussed above, the ''Yellow Books'' were only available in paperback.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
==== ''Film – Romance. Illustrated Novel Weekly'' ====
A series of 20 weekly volumes edited by F. Antoni Ossendowski, published in 1938. These short, 16-page brochures, priced at 0.20 PLN, illustrated with stills from films, popularized film works, especially foreign ones.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Film-Romans. Numery 2-20 (1938) |url=http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/publication/110438?tab=1 |access-date=2013-09-16 |website=Wielkopolska Biblioteka Cyfrowa |language=pl}}</ref>
== Printing houses ==
The publishing house collaborated with the best Polish printing houses, allowing for the production of high-quality products. In Lviv, it utilized its own printing plant, the ''Polish Publishing House Press'', since 1921. In Poznań, the main printing house for the publishing house became ''[[Concordia (printer)|Concordia]]''. Additionally, it collaborated with other printing establishments, including the ''Graphic Works of the Polish Library'' in Bydgoszcz, the Kraków-based ''National Printing House'' and ''Printing House of Ludwik Anczyc and Company'', as well as several printing houses in Poznań: ''St. Adalbert Printing House'', ''Printing House of "Poradnik Gospodarczy"'' of [[Jan Kuglin]], ''Printing House of the Union of Youth'', ''Polish Printing House'', and ''Poznań Printing House'' and ''the National Plant T. A''. Some illustrations were printed in Nuremberg. In post-war Poland, printing was mainly conducted at the ''Toruń Graphic Works''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> During the war, matrices of illustrations for children's books survived in Nuremberg,<ref name=":15" /> and possibly some matrices of the ''Wonders of Poland'' were taken from Poznań to Warsaw at the beginning of the occupation.<ref name=":4" />
== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
== References ==
<references />
== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Szpinger |first=Stefan |title=Na szerokiej drodze |publisher=Wydawnictwo Łódzkie |year=1974 |location=Łódź |language=pl |ref={{sfnref|Szpinger|1974}}}}
[[Category:Book publishing companies of Poland]]
[[Categoryoznań]]
Okumaya devam et...
l:Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera; see its history for attribution.{{Infobox company
| image = Rudolf Wegner.jpg
| image_caption = [[Rudolf Wegner]]
| native_name = Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera
| native_name_lang = pl
| industry = publishing
| founded = 1917 (as a joint-stock company ''Polish Publishing House'')
| defunct = {{End date|1950}}
| hq_location = [[Poznań]]
| hq_location_country = [[Poland]]
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Ignacy Mościcki]]|[[Antoni Jakubski]]|[[Marian Kukiel]]|[[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]]|[[Roman Odzierzyński]]|[[Aleksander Litwinowicz]]}}
| owner = Rudolf Wegner
}}{{Short description|Polish publishing house active from 1917 to 1950}}
[[File
L Chopin Człowiek i Artysta.png|thumb|[[James Huneker]]: ''Chopin: The Man and His Music'' (Polish edition from 1922)]]'''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''' ({{Lang-pl|Wydawnictwo Polskie R. Wegnera}}) was a [[Poland|Polish]] publishing house active from 1917 to 1950. It was founded as a [[joint-stock company]] by [[Rudolf Wegner (Poland)|Rudolf Wegner]] as ''Polish Publishing House'' ({{Lang-pl|Wydawnictwo Polskie}}), headquartered in [[Lviv]], and later in [[Poznań]]. In 1926, Wegner took over ownership and changed the name to ''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''. It was mainly focused on Polish and foreign literature. It had a number of publishing series, the most famous being the ''Nobel Laureates Library'' and ''Wonders of Poland''. It was characterized by great attention to the technical, literary, and graphic quality of its books, especially luxury bibliophile editions. The production output reached 300 new titles annually. During [[World War II]], it was relocated to [[Warsaw]] and sold its warehouse stocks. In 1941, the owner, Rudolf Wegner, passed away, and the company passed into the hands of his wife, Wanda, and daughter, [[Irena Rybotycka]]. The assets of the publishing house were practically completely destroyed during the [[Warsaw Uprising]]. After the war, it resumed operations, but in 1950, it was nationalized and liquidated. Its activity was continued on a relatively small scale by the emigrant ''Tern (Rybitwa) Book Polish Publishing House'' in [[London]] until the 1970s.
== History ==
=== From 1901 to 1914: origins ===
Rudolf Wegner began his publishing activity by founding a partnership with Zygmunt Rychliński in 1901 and acquiring a bookstore on [[Piotrkowska Street]] in [[Łódź]], which was a branch of the ''[[Gebethner i Wolff]]'' publishing house.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Michalewska |first=A. |year=1978 |title=Działalność wydawnicza Rudolfa Wegnera |journal=Roczniki Biblioteczne |language=pl |volume=XXII |pages=117–135}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Nowak |first=Adam |date=2008-12-12 |title="Cuda Polski", czyli Rudolf Wegner rediviva |url=http://rynek-ksiazki.pl/-wiadomosci...ski---czyli-rudolf-wegner-rediviva_18448.html |journal=Wiadomości Księgarskie |language=pl |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=80–85}}</ref> The company conducted intensive publishing activities, offering scientific and popular science books, textbooks, sheet music, fiction, as well as magazines such as the humorous ''Łodzianka'' and the professional ''Czasopismo Lekarskie''.<ref name=":0" /> In 1905, Wegner, probably due to political reasons (suspicions by the authorities of involvement in the [[Russian Revolution of 1905]]<ref name=":0" /> and distribution of books outside censorship),<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Kozarynowa |first=Zofia |title=Nagroda literacka im. Rudolfa Wegnera |publisher=Oficyna Poetów i Malarzy |year=1989 |isbn=0-948668-87-3 |location=London |language=pl |chapter=W służbie książki}}</ref> had to immediately leave the territory of the Russian partition. He settled in [[Lviv]] and started working at the [[Altenberg Publishing|Altenberg]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Michalewska |first=Anna |title=Słownik pracowników książki polskiej |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |year=1972 |editor-last=Treichel |editor-first=I. |location=Warsaw – Łódź |pages=941–942 |language=pl |chapter=Rudolf Wegner}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Pękalska |first=Marta |year=2000 |title=Wydawnictwo Polskie |journal=Wydawca |language=pl |volume=1–2 |pages=38–39}}</ref> and [[Ossolineum]] publishing houses.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
=== From 1917 to 1928: Polish Publishing House ===
In 1917, Wegner formed a joint-stock company, whose shareholders included [[Ignacy Mościcki]], [[Antoni Jakubski]], [[Marian Kukiel]], [[Tadeusz Kutrzeba]], [[Roman Odzierzyński]], and [[Aleksander Litwinowicz]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Rybotycka |first=Irena |year=1989 |title=Wspomnienie o Rudolfie Wegnerze, zasłużonym polskim wydawcy |journal=Przegląd Wielkopolski |language=pl |volume=3 |issue=9 |pages=22–25}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last=Zajączkowska |first=Mariola |date=1992-01-08 |title=Śladem R. Wegnera, zasłużonego wydawcy. Kto podejmie edycję Biblioteki Laureatów Nagrody Nobla |journal=Słowo Powszechne |language=pl}}</ref> The capital obtained allowed the establishment of the Polish Publishing House in November 1917, with Wegner as its director.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The headquarters of the new publishing house was established in [[Lviv]] at 15 Zyblikiewicza Street. In 1920, Wegner moved it to [[Poznań]], initially to premises at 5 [[Wolności Square]], lent by [[Jan Jachowski]], and then to 48 [[Święty Marcin Street]]. In the [[Polish Booksellers' Association]], the publishing house was registered at 6 Zwierzyniecka Street.<ref name=":0" />
Poznań was a calm city, much less destroyed by the war than Lviv and Warsaw,<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Rybotycka |first=Irena |title=Nagroda literacka im. Rudolfa Wegnera |publisher=Oficyna poetów i pisarzy |year=1989 |isbn=0-948668-87-3 |location=London |language=pl |chapter=Przemówienie Ireny Rybotyckiej, fundatorki nagrody}}</ref> with a well-developed printing and publishing industry. In these conditions, Wegner led the company to rapid development.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Rausz |first=Monika |year=2006 |title="Cuda Polski" Rudolfa Wegnera: historia edycji |url=http://sbsp.up.krakow.pl/article/download/965/pdf |journal=Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia ad Bibliothecarum Scientiam Pertinentia |language=pl |volume=4 |pages=156–166 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319090727/http://sbsp.up.krakow.pl/article/download/965/pdf |archive-date=2015-03-19}}</ref> Close cooperation was established with [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]. From 1920, publishing series began to appear. In 1921, [[Stanisław Lam (publisher)|Stanisław Lam]] became the manager and literary advisor of the publishing house. The first volume of the largest series of the publishing house, the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', was published at that time.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> The publishing house intensified its activities, gradually reaching a level of about 300 titles per year. Its production was presented, among others, at the book exhibition in Poznań (1924) and the 2nd International Book Exhibition in [[Florence]] (1925). In 1926, Stanisław Wasylewski took over the editing of the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'',<ref name=":0" /> and a year later, he became the editor of the publishing house.<ref name=":4" />
=== From 1939 to 1945: World War II ===
After the Germans occupied Poznań in 1939, Wegner's publishing house was closed by the occupation authorities,<ref name=":1" /> and the owner was expelled from Poznań.<ref name=":2" /> The books from the publishing house's warehouses in Poznań and Lviv were earmarked for destruction by the occupiers. Valuable private collections were burned by the Germans in the Wolności Square in Poznań.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />
Wegner settled in Warsaw and continued his activities under the name ''Polish Publishing House R. Wegner''.<ref name=":0" /> First, he undertook efforts to save the publishing house's resources in Poznań. Initial attempts, including those by the bookseller and publisher Gustaw Tetzlaw, failed.{{Efn|Gustaw Tetzlaw was co-owner of one of the 3 largest bookselling and publishing companies in pre-war Poznań, ''W. Górski and G. Tetzlaw Bookstore''. Tetzlaw's efforts to get permission from the occupying German authorities to export his own company's books to Warsaw were also unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pazyra |first=Stanisław |title=Z dziejów książki polskiej w czasie drugiej wojny światowej |publisher=Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy |year=1970 |location=Warsaw |pages=30–33 |language=pl}}</ref>}} Wegner then sought help from [[Stefan Szpinger]], who had previously successfully organized the transportation of collections from the Poznań [[Printing House and Bookstore of St. Adalbert]] to Warsaw by rail. All materials from the warehouse of Polish Publishing House were requisitioned by the Germans and haphazardly transferred to a railway warehouse. The entire stock was seized by the German Bank, which took over the pre-war credit of the publishing house.{{Efn|The value of the seized 300 tons of books destined for milling at a paper mill in [[Czerwonak]] near Poznań was estimated by the bank at 4,000 German marks (about 8,000 PLN).<ref name=":5">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=167–177}}</ref>}} Wegner managed to quickly repay the entire debt, regaining the ability to dispose of the warehouse's resources, and Szpinger, with great difficulty, obtained approvals from the ''Propaganda Abteilung'', ''Presse Amt'', and [[Gestapo]] for the removal of books. A condition imposed by the Gestapo was Szpinger's personal commitment to organize the collections after transportation to Warsaw and to hand over to the German authorities the titles listed as banned books. The transport to Warsaw was carried out by the transportation company ''[[C. Hartwig Gdynia|C. Hartwig]]''.
In addition to the warehouse resources, Wegner had substantial stocks of books ready for sale in the basement of his house on Słowacki Street, which, coincidentally, escaped the attention of the Germans. Szpinger organized a group of friendly booksellers from the Bookstore of St. Adalbert to pack the hidden books and then conducted a daring operation to transport them (also with the help of ''C. Hartwig'') to the railway warehouse and mostly include them in the transport to Warsaw. Part of the stock was allocated for sale in Poznań, obtaining funds to cover the Poznań expenses related to the operation (Wegner's funds from Warsaw could not be used for this purpose, as the transport of cash from the [[General Government]] to the Reich territories was prohibited). In total, about 300 tons of books, loose printer's sheets, and supplies of clean paper were transported from Poznań, occupying 15 railway wagons.<ref name=":5" /> In this venture, Szpinger was assisted by Julian Stefański, Teodor Bielawski,<ref name=":0" /> and Stefan Szczypiński, as well as volunteer booksellers from the Bookstore of St. Adalbert.<ref name=":5" /> In Warsaw, the recovered materials were placed in a warehouse at 6/8 Okrąg Street. The books were distributed both in the official circulation and supplied to underground bookstores. The publishing house also printed small quantities of missing parts of Ossendowski's books on salvaged paper.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=181–182}}</ref>
Stefan Szpinger earned recognition and friendship from Wegner with his selfless transport action, who appointed him as the manager of the publishing house and granted him full authority to conduct all affairs.<ref name=":5" /> On 13 July 1941, Rudolf Wegner died of a heart attack.<ref name=":7" /> The publishing house was taken over by his wife, Wanda, and daughter, [[Irena Rybotycka]], and was still managed by Stefan Szpinger, who, among other things, concluded negotiations with [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], obtaining exclusivity for Polish Publishing House to publish her works. The most valuable part of the preserved books was transferred to a new warehouse at [[New World Street, Warsaw|New World Street]].<ref name=":0" /> The publishing house's activities during the occupation were profitable due to the high demand for Polish books. Apart from patriotic motives, they were treated as a capital investment and fetched very high prices on the secondary market; for example, the price of Disslowa's cookbook reached up to 1,000 PLN per copy. Several tens of thousands of stockpiled volumes were excluded from sale, deemed by Szpinger and the company's owners as assets intended to restart the publishing house after the war.<ref name=":8" />
The German authorities hindered Polish bookselling activities, further harassing Wegner's company with inspections in bookstores. They also established a company with the misleading name ''Polish Publishing House – Polnische Verlag'', publishing, among other things, books of a pornographic nature, aiming to discredit the real Wegner publishing house.<ref name=":0" /> The Germans also enforced Szpinger's Poznań obligation to hand over the banned books of the publishing house to the authorities. However, only one incomplete "platform" of some titles by Bandrowski and Rodziewiczówna was likely handed over.<ref name=":9">{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=187–189}}</ref>
During the [[Warsaw Uprising]], books from the Wegner publishing house's warehouse on Okrąg Street were distributed to the insurgents for reading. Soon, the remaining books were used to build barricades, where they were destroyed.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> The warehouse on Okrąg Street was hit by a bomb and burned down; likewise, the second warehouse on New World Street burned down with all the books. As a result, the publishing house lost all its resources.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=214–215}}</ref>
=== Post-war period ===
==== From 1945 to 1948: Germany ====
[[File:Shakespeare. Szekspir w opowiadaniach dla młodzieży 1948.png|thumb|Title page of the book ''[[Tales from Shakespeare]]'' edited by [[Irena Rybotycka]], Germany 1947/1948]]
In November 1945, Irena Rybotycka left Poland for the American occupation zone in Germany, where she reunited with her husband, Colonel [[Tomasz Rybotycki]], a liaison officer of the [[Polish Military Mission]]. Both of them then began efforts to resume the activities of Polish Publishing House R. Wegner to provide access to Polish books for Polish war refugees. Tomasz Rybotycki became the head of the Welfare and Printing Team established within the Polish Military Mission, and Irena Rybotycka, working with the [[Polish Red Cross]], obtained an allocation of paper from the [[United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration]]. The Rybotyckis obtained permission to print books on religious and educational topics; the proposed set included 12 titles.<ref name=":7" /> They also managed to recover the old printing plates from [[Nuremberg]], where Rudolf Wegner printed children's books.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |last=Dippel |first=Stefan |title=O księgarzach, którzy przeminęli |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |location=Wrocław |page=187 |language=pl}}</ref> The resumed Polish Publishing House R. Wegner began its operations in Nuremberg in 1945, and books started to be published at the beginning of 1946. After a few months, the Rybotycki couple had to suddenly leave Germany due to the takeover of Polish facilities by the communist government. However, Tomasz Rybotycki managed to complete the printing of the planned titles,<ref name=":7" /> which were published until 1948.<ref name=":0" />
==== From 1947 to 1974: England ====
After leaving Germany, the Rybotycki couple relocated to [[London]]. There, they received royalties for books published by Polish Publishing House R. Wegner during the war by the emigrant Ministry of Education. Together with Wanda Rybotycka, in 1947 they founded ''Tern (Rybitwa) Book Co. Ltd.'',{{Efn|''Rybitwa'' (English: Tern) was an acronym for the surname and first names of the founders of the publishing house: Rybotycki, Irena, Tomasz, Wanda.}} primarily publishing old titles from Polish Publishing House R. Wegner, including selected books from the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' and ''Wonders of Poland'' series.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> The reissue of [[Maria Disslowa]]'s cookbook ''Jak gotować'' achieved the greatest success, also published in English as ''Continental European Cooking''. New titles included [[Zofia Kossak-Szczucka]]'s ''Heritage'' and Sir [[Philip Gibbs]]' political novel ''No Price For Freedom'' to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.{{Efn|Philip Gibbs wrote this novel on the initiative of Irena Rybotycka. The original title, ''No Price for Freedom'', and translations have circulated in a total print run of nearly 500,000 copies.}} Rybitwa Publishing ceased its operations in 1974 after the death of T. Rybotycki.<ref name=":7" />
==== From 1947 to 1950: Poland ====
Since 1947, Polish Publishing House R. Wegner resumed its operations in Poland. In the absence of the owners, the company was managed by a representative, Anna Łempicka. The headquarters were located in Warsaw at 10 Cecylia Śniegocka Street. They resumed the publication of several volumes from the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' series, novels by Rodziewiczówna, as well as books for children and youth. The new editions were illustrated by [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]] and [[Jan Marcin Szancer]].<ref name=":0" />
In 1950, the publishing house was liquidated by the decision of the Polish authorities at the time, and the publishing rights were taken over by the [[State Publishing Institute PIW]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
== Description of activity ==
The primary goal of Polish Publishing House was to offer high-quality books. They were carefully crafted during a long publishing cycle, sometimes lasting from 4 to 6 years, and in some cases even up to 10 years (such as [[Maria Disslowa]]'s ''Jak gotować''). The books were visually appealing, with numerous illustrations usually done using the [[copper-plate]] technique.<ref name=":0" /> They had artistic bindings and a consistent appearance within each publishing series or for a particular author.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Popowska |first=Jadwiga |date=1939-01-06 |title=U wydawcy |url=http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=60194&from=publication |journal=Dziennik Poznański |language=pl |volume=81 |issue=5 |page=11 |access-date=2013-09-16}}</ref> Leading Polish writers were employed for translations from foreign languages and for book editing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> The high level of illustration and graphic design was ensured by artists such as [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]], [[Ernest Czerper]], [[Rafał Malczewski]], [[Kamil Mackiewicz]], [[Tadeusz Lipski]], [[Teodor Rożankowski]], [[Leon Wyczółkowski]], [[Jan Kilarski]], and [[Jan Bułhak]].<ref name=":6" />
Printing was done on good quality paper, with later editions using special wood-free paper. Bibliophile albums were printed on [[Handmade paper|handmade]] or Chinese paper. To enhance production, various font styles, typographic layouts, and formats were used, with colorful [[Dust jacket|dust jackets]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":10" /> The quality of the books from Polish Publishing House is evidenced by letters received by Rudolf Wegner:<ref name=":10" />
{{Quote|text=Thank you for the two beautiful copies of ''Dusza Zaczarowana'', kindly sent to me. I would like us to have in France the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' so artistically and diversely published.|author=[[Romain Rolland]]|source=October 11, 1924}}{{Quote|text=I have finally received a copy of the Polish edition of ''Julius Caesar'' [...]. Unable to judge the value of the translation, I admire the magnificence of the publication. In terms of printing, paper, and illustrations, it is the most splendid edition of my works. It has brought me much satisfaction, and I extend my congratulations to you.|author=[[Guglielmo Ferrero]]|source=December 21, 1935}}{{Quote|text=Speaking about this publication [''Dzieje Papieży''], I can only note that this edition makes an extraordinary impression. The paper, printing, binding are very good. Special commendation should be given to the illustrations, which are excellent in both selection and execution technique. I must confess frankly that this book in terms of illustration far surpassed the German edition.|author=[[Franz Xaver Seppelt]]|source=January 9, 1937}}
The books were usually offered in two versions, paperback and "bound" (also known as "luxury").<ref name=":6" /> Their prices were relatively high, up to 14 PLN for a hardcover book and 4–5 PLN cheaper for the paperback version. The cost of purchasing ''Wonders of Poland'' was even higher, reaching up to 20 PLN,<ref name=":0" /> which, however, considering the particularly attractive format and very high quality of the books, was often seen as a moderate price.<ref name=":4" /> Despite the high prices, the books sold quickly and were often reprinted.<ref name=":0" /> It was not until 1928 that high-volume printing of cheaper books (3 PLN per copy) intended for less demanding readers began.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
In addition, Polish Publishing House offered luxury albums,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> priced at 100–200 PLN per copy. They were mostly purchased by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland for representational purposes, as well as by bibliophiles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
The publishing house did not have its own bookstore. The editions were distributed mainly through [[Gebethner i Wolff]] bookstores, as well as by the [[Książnica-Atlas]] company, and also through the [[Dom Książki Polskiej]] in Warsaw.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
== Printer's mark of the publishing house ==
The [[printer's mark]] of the publishing house underwent several changes. Initially, it had a circular shape, similar in style to the printer's mark of [[Edward Wende (publisher)|E. Wende]] (which was Wegner's first place of employment). From the mid-1920s, the marks took the form of intertwined letters ''P'' and ''W'', positioned one above the other. In some books, the mark was not included (for example, in the ''Wonders of Poland'' series).<gallery widths="100" heights="120" caption="Examples of printer's marks in books of the Polish Publishing House">
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Sztuka Walcząca 1923.png|[[Stanisław Baczyński]], ''Sztuka Walcząca'', 1923
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Antychryst.Tragedja w trzech aktach 1925.png|[[Karol Hubert Rostworowski]], ''Antychryst. Tragedja w trzech aktach'', 1925
File:Benito Mussolini - Pamiętnik z czasów wojny 06.jpg|[[Benito Mussolini]], ''Memoir of the War'', 1931 (pre-title page)
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Gawlewicz. Plotka. Okładka.png|[[Marian Gawalewicz]], ''Plotka'', 1931
File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - W sercu dzungli 1935.png|Stanisław Mycielski, ''W sercu dżungli'', 1935
</gallery>
=== ''Kotwica'' symbol ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center; border: 1px;"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
| style="width:150px; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |[[File:Zoska odzn bt.png|alt=Sign of Fighting Poland on the badge of the Zośka Battalion|114x114px]]
| style="width:150px; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |[[File:Logo - Wydawnictwo Polskie - Polowanie na potwory morskie1927 okładka.png|alt=Printer<nowiki>'s mark from the back cover of the book ''Hunting Sea Monsters''</nowiki>, 1927|163x163px]]
|-
| style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |Sign of Fighting Poland on the badge of the [[Zośka Battalion]]
| style="text-align: left; border: 2px solid #FFFFFF;" |Printer's mark from the back cover of the book ''Hunting Sea Monsters'', 1927
|}
|}
In the early years of the German occupation, [[Jerzy Jabłonowski]] (former aide-de-camp to Marshal [[Józef Piłsudski]]) approached Irena Rybotycka with a request to use the publishing house's printer's mark displayed on the cover of the book ''Polowanie na potwory morskie'' (English: ''Hunting Sea Monsters'') as a symbol of Poland's resistance against the occupant:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geneza koncepcji graficznej Kotwicy jako znaku Polski Walczącej |url=https://users.man.poznan.pl/msob/ZnakPolskiWalczacej.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=users.man.poznan.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
{{Quote|text=[Jerzy Jabłonowski]: You know... Poland is fighting – that's clear, but we still need our own symbol, emblem, crest, or recognizable sign, like a signature or seal. These two initials ''PW'' artistically intertwined as our own sign. Your company, Polish Publishing House, has the same initials ''WP'' as our ''PW''. Look at your mark on the cover: the initials stylized into the shape of an anchor (an anchor is a symbol of hope). I can't imagine a better combination of these two letters, as on the cover of your book. What would you say if we used it as the emblem of Fighting Poland? Even the title of the book fits. After all, we're only hunting monsters in the name of historical justice.|author=[[Irena Rybotycka]]|title=''Znak Polski Walczącej''}}
During the war, part of the Polish population unequivocally associated the graphic design of the ''[[Kotwica]]'' symbol with the printer's mark of Polish Publishing House.<ref name=":11">{{Cite journal |last=Łysiak |first=Waldemar |author-link=Waldemar Łysiak |date=2013-08-04 |title=Polska Walcząca |journal=Do Rzeczy |language=pl |volume=27 |page=99}}</ref> The similarity – even the identity<ref name=":11" /> – of both symbols also caught the attention of the [[Gestapo]], who conducted a raid on the publishing house and ordered the obfuscation of the printer's mark in all books intended for distribution.<ref name=":9" />
== Publisher's profile ==
[[File:Jak gotować. Maria Disslowa.PNG|thumb|[[Maria Disslowa]]: ''Jak gotować'' (1931 or 1938)]]
The publishing house primarily focused on literature, both Polish and foreign. In its early years, it mainly published contemporary novels by Polish authors, including [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Marian Gawalewicz]], [[Stefan Grabiński]], [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], [[Wacław Sieroszewski]], [[Jerzy Turnau]], and [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]. Additionally, it released textbooks and books covering diverse topics such as veterinary science, agriculture, industry, and politics.<ref name=":0" /> Series with thematic focuses became a hallmark of the company's publishing plans. The first series, ''Gawędy o Dawnym Obyczaju. Wybór ciekawych pamiętników XVIII i XIX w.'' (English: ''Conversations on Old Customs: Selection of Interesting Memoirs from the 18th and 19th Centuries''), began in 1920. The following year, Stanisław Lam initiated the editing of the extensive series ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', which showcased the works of the most outstanding foreign writers from 1921 to 1939.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
Children's literature was represented by series such as ''Książki Obrazkowe'' (English: ''Picture Books''), ''Bajki i Baśnie'' (English: ''Fables and Fairy Tales''), or the very popular ''Bajki Polskie Wujka Czesia'' (English: ''Polish Tales by Uncle Czesio'') by [[Czesław Kędzierski]]. Numerous travel and adventure books were aimed at young adults, such as the series ''Świat Podróży i Przygód'' (English: ''World of Travel and Adventures'').<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
Among the many books published outside of series, some notable titles include:
* [[Maria Disslowa]]'s ''Jak gotować'' (English: ''How to Cook''), Poznań, 1930, a comprehensive guide to cooking and entertaining.
* Complete works of:
** [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]] – 36 volumes (during World War II, the publishing house obtained exclusive rights to publish the author's works)
** [[Józef Weyssenhoff]] – only 3 volumes were released, numbers 1, 2, and 7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weyssenhoff, Józef (1860-1932) |url=http://alpha.bn.org.pl/search*pol/X?SEARCH=a:(Weyssenhoff) and t:(Dzieła)&SORT=D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2015031...?SEARCH=a:(Weyssenhoff) and t:(Dzieła)&SORT=D |archive-date=2015-03-19 |access-date=2013-09-09 |website=Katalog główny BN |language=pl}}</ref>
Luxurious bibliophile albums included:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
* [[Camille Mauclair]]'s ''Florence'' translated by L. Staff, Lviv – Poznań, 1926.
* [[Jerzy Mycielski]] and S. Wasylewski's ''Polish Portraits of Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun'' ''1755–1842'', Lviv – Poznań, 1927. The book with 24 illustrations produced by the [[Heliography|heliograph]] technique was issued in an edition of 1,100 numbered copies, in a format of 31×24 cm, on handmade paper. This paper was supplied to the publishing house and bore [[Watermark|watermarks]] from the manufacturer – Mirkowski Paper Factory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Podpłońska |first=Elżbieta |title=Jerzy Mycielski, Stanisław Wasylewski: Portrety polskie Elżbiety Vigee-Lebrun (1755-1842) Lwów – Poznań. Wydawnictwo Polskie 1927. MNki/ Bibl/sygn. 30897. (zakup 1990 rok) |url=https://mnki.pl/pl/obiekt_tygodnia/2024/strony/1 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=mnki.pl |language=pl}}</ref> Two other editions of the book were also released in different formats, one on Chinese paper, and the other described as a "copy of the luxury edition" (1928).
* [[Joseph Gregor]] and [[René Fülöp-Miller]]'s ''American Theater and Cinema: Two Images from the History of Culture'' translated by S. Wasylewski, Poznań, 1931.
* [[Franciszek Ksawery Seppelt]] and [[Klemens Löffler]]'s ''History of Popes'', Poznań, 1936.
=== Publishing series ===
==== ''Conversations on Old Customs: Selection of Interesting Memoirs from the 18th and 19th Centuries'' ====
This was the first series of the Polish Publishing House, published in 1920–1930, and was compiled and edited by [[Stanisław Wasylewski]].
==== ''Library of Nobel Laureates'' ====
[[File:Bibljoteka Laureatów Nobla.png|left|thumb|Logo of the series]]
[[File:Księga dżungli-okładka.jpg|thumb|[[Rudyard Kipling]]: ''[[The Jungle Book]]'' (Polish edition from 1923)]]
[[File:Romain Rolland. Wycieczka w krainę muzyki przeszłości.png|thumb|[[Romain Rolland]]: ''Musicians of the Past'' (Polish edition from 1924)]]
Polish Publishing House made its mark with the groundbreaking series titled ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', initiated in 1921 with the publication of [[Romain Rolland]]'s novel ''[[Colas Breugnon (novel)|Colas Breugnon]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> The idea for the series stemmed from Wegner's observation that most authors he intended to publish in Polish translations were [[Nobel laureates]].<ref name=":7" /> From 1921 to 1926, the series was edited by Stanisław Lam, with later editorial oversight by Stanisław Wasylewski.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Kowalska |first=Marzena |url=http://zbc.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |title=Dokąd zmierzamy? Książka i jej czytelnik |date= |publisher=Książnica Pomorska im. Stanisława Staszica |year=2008 |isbn=978-83-87879-70-9 |editor-last=Gaziński |editor-first=Radosław |series=Bibliotekarza Zachodniopomorskiego |volume=IV |location=Szczecin |pages=109–126 |language=pl |chapter=Literackie serie wydawnicze w latach 1921–1999 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20131002....szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |archive-date=2013-10-02}}</ref> [[Tadeusz Lipski]] and [[Jan Marcin Szancer]] were responsible for the graphic design, while illustrations were executed by [[Ernest Czerper]] and [[Teodor Rożankowski]], and covers were designed by [[Edward Kuczyński (artist)|Edward Kuczyński]]. Translators included [[Józef Birkenmajer]], [[Czesław Kędzierski]], [[Leopold Staff]], [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Florian Sobieniowski]], [[Franciszek Mirandola]], and [[Stanisław Wasylewski]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12" /> This selection of translators and editors allowed for the publication of books that were not inferior in quality, appearance, or literary value to the originals. The thoughtful selection of authors and their works, along with the scale of the series, made it unique on a European scale.<ref name=":0" /> In Poland, which had only regained independence a few years earlier, the series was particularly valuable due to the very limited availability of foreign-language literature in Polish.<ref name=":7" />
The series included works by the following [[List of Nobel laureates in Literature|Nobel laureates in literature]]:<ref name=":12" />
* [[Maurice Maeterlinck]] – 11 titles, totaling 18 editions
* [[Knut Hamsun]] – 9 titles, totaling 15 editions
* [[Rudyard Kipling]] – 8 titles, totaling 15 editions (Polish Publishing House had exclusive rights to publish Kipling in Poland)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]] – 8 titles, totaling 9 editions
* [[Selma Lagerlöf]] – 6 titles, totaling 9 editions{{Efn|Selma Lagerlöf was convinced that publishing her book in Poland would be scarce, and she waived her salary on the first edition.<ref name=":5" />}}
* [[Karl Adolph Gjellerup|Karl Gjellerup]] – 5 titles, totaling 8 editions
* [[Paul Heyse]] – 3 titles
* [[Henrik Pontoppidan]] – 3 titles, totaling 4 editions
* [[Romain Rolland]] – 3 titles, totaling 14 volumes and editions (''Dusza zaczarowana'' was originally published in 3 volumes, later as one volume; ''Jan Krzysztof'' – 4 volumes)
* [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]] – 2 titles, totaling 3 editions
* [[Carl Spitteler]] – 2 titles, totaling 3 editions
* [[Grazia Deledda]] – 2 titles
* [[Gerhart Hauptmann]] – 2 titles
* [[Stanisław Reymont]] – 1 title, 4 editions
* [[Jacinto Benavente]] – 1 title
* [[Rudolf Christoph Eucken|Rudolf Eucken]] – 1 two-volume title
* [[Anatole France]] – 1 title
* [[Verner von Heidenstam]] – 1 title
* [[Thomas Mann]] – 1 title
* [[George Bernard Shaw]] – 1 title
* [[W. B. Yeats|William Butler Yeats]] – 1 title
By 1939, 80 volumes of the series had been published. All were numbered, had the same 8° format, graphic design, content layout on covers, and a unique graphic symbol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":12" /> The entire edition was bound by the ''[[Przesławski i Cierniak Company]]'', and in 1929, it was showcased at the [[Universal National Exhibition]] in Poznań.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1929 |title=Przechadzki po P.W.K., Wśród pięknych opraw książek |journal=Polska Gazeta Introligatorska |language=pl |issue=6}}</ref>
After the war, some books from the series were reissued in Warsaw (1947–1950) and London.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> In 1992, Irena Rybotycka offered to waive royalties if the series were resumed and continued in Poland, under the condition that books include a note about Rudolf Wegner and the origin of the series.<ref name=":14" />
==== Monographic studies ====
* {{Cite book |last=Kowalska |first=Marzena |url=http://zbc.ksiaznica.szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |title=Dokąd Zmierzamy? Książka i jej czytelnik |publisher=Książnica Pomorska im. Stanisława Staszica |year=2008 |isbn=978-83-87879-70-9 |editor-last=Gaziński |editor-first=Radosław |series=Bibliotekarz Zachodniopomorski |volume=IV |location=Międzyzdroje |pages=109–126 |language=pl |chapter=Literackie serie wydawnicze w latach 1921–1999 |access-date=2016-02-24 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130601....szczecin.pl/Content/18106/Seria+BZP+T+IV.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-01}}
==== ''World of Travel and Adventures'' ====
The highly popular series ''World of Travel and Adventures'' was published from 1925 onwards, with [[Czesław Kędzierski]] serving as its editor. True to its title, the series featured travel and adventure novels, most often with a maritime theme. Authors included [[Robert Louis Stevenson]], [[Mark Twain]], [[James Fenimore Cooper]], [[Edgar Allan Poe]], and [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]].<ref name=":0" />
==== ''Epics and Legends'' ====
A short series published between 1926 and 1927, comprising 3 titles concerning [[Francis of Assisi|St. Francis of Assisi]], [[Antarah ibn Shaddad]], and [[The Buddha|Buddha]].
==== ''Library of Polish Authors'' ====
This series, started in 1928,<ref name=":0" /> was intended to present the works of young, contemporary Polish authors to readers.<ref name=":7" /> Among them were [[Jerzy Bandrowski]], [[Jerzy Kossowski]], [[Kornel Makuszyński]], [[Stanisław Wasylewski]], [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]], [[Jan Wiktor (writer)|Jan Wiktor]], [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]], and [[Julian Wołoszynowski]]. Within the series, books authored by [[Wacław Berent]], [[Marian Gawalewicz]], [[Ignacy "Sewer" Maciejowski]], [[Adam Krechowiecki]], and [[Aleksander Świętochowski]] were also reissued.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" />
==== ''Monographs of Great Figures and Historical Periods'' ====
This series, published between 1928 and 1935, comprised 10 volumes containing monographs of historical figures, well-known Polish and foreign authors, as well as historical novels and studies. These included works on:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
* Historical figures:
** [[Emil Ludwig]], ''Napoleon'' (translated by L. Staff), Poznań, 1928
** [[Kazimierz Waliszewski]], ''Catherine II'' (translated by S. Wasylewski), Poznań, 1929
** [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]], ''Lenin'', Poznań, 1930
** [[Louis Bertrand (novelist)|Louis Bertrand]], ''Louis XIV'' (translated by S. Wasylewski), Poznań, 1931
* Literary figures:
** [[Tadeusz Pini]], ''Krasiński. Life and Works'', Poznań, 1928
** [[Stanisław Adamczewski]], ''Insatiable Heart. Book about Żeromski'', Poznań, 1930.
** [[Andrzej Tretiak]], ''Lord Byron'', Poznań, 1930
* Historical periods:
** [[Julian Wołoszynowski]], ''The Year 1863'', Poznań, 1931
** [[Guglielmo Ferrero]], ''The Greatness and Fall of Rome''; Vol. 1 ''Conquest'', Vol. 2 ''Julius Caesar'' (translated by L. Staff), Poznań, 1935
==== ''Wonders of Poland'' ====
[[File:Jerzy Smoleński. Morze i Pomorze (Cuda Polski) 1928 s. 5.png|thumb|[[Jerzy Smoleński]]: ''Sea and Pomerania'' (1928)]]
[[File:Ferdynand Ossendowski - Polesie - 1934 - title page.jpg|thumb|[[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski|Ferdynand Ossendowski]]: ''Polesie'' (1934)]]
[[File:Ferdynand Ossendowski - Puszcze polskie - 1953 - title page.jpg|thumb|Ferdynand Ossendowski: ''Polish Forests'' (1936)]]
The full name of the series was ''Miracles of Poland – Natural Monuments – Monuments of Labor – Historical Landmarks'' ({{Lang-pl|Cuda Polski – Pomniki Przyrody – Pomniki Pracy – Zabytki Dziejów}}) and it had a geographical character. Alongside the ''Library of Nobel Laureates'', it was the prestigious and most popular series of the publishing house. It was the result of Wegner's extensive analysis of the global publishing market. The French ''Collection les Beaux Pays'' published by J. Rey in [[Grenoble]] had the greatest influence on the final shape of the series.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
The motto of the series was ''This is Poland – our homeland'' ([[Aleksander Fredro]]). Its goal was to promote patriotic values in Poland, so the publishing house was not focused on financial gain in this case, and the books were distributed largely outside the market. Government agencies used ''Wonders of Poland'' (like the publisher's bibliophilic items) to create a positive image of Poland abroad. It began in 1928, planned for 20 volumes, and 14 were published before the outbreak of the war. In 1939, volume 15 titled ''Volhynia'' was being prepared.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" />
The ''Wonders of Poland'' were produced with particular care and attractiveness. All volumes had a consistent format (21×16 cm), graphic layout designed by [[Jan Bułhak]], and a style of binding (designed by [[Ernest Czerper]])<ref name=":0" /> and illustrations. They were printed in uniform font on the same special wood-free paper. Bułhak was also responsible for preparing the photographs – many of his own – illustrating the books. They were produced using the labor-intensive [[heliography]] technique. The maps were authored by Rudolf Wegner's son-in-law, Colonel Tomasz Rybotycki.<ref name=":4" /> [[Jan Kilarski]], [[Kamil Mackiewicz]], [[Rafał Malczewski]], [[Teodor Rożankowski]], and [[Leon Wyczółkowski]]'s works were used for the covers.<ref name=":0" /> Each volume took about 4–6 years to prepare.<ref name=":10" />
The production process was quite complex because printing was done by 4 different printing houses: ''[[Concordia (printer)|Concordia]]'' in Poznań (text), ''Zakłady Graficzne Biblioteki Polskiej'' in [[Bydgoszcz]] (heliographic illustrations, [[rotogravure]] printing), and [[Saint Adalbert Printing House|''Saint Adalbert Printing House'']] in Poznań and ''National Printing House'' in [[Kraków]] (covers).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
The ''Wonders of Poland'' were highly popular, frequently reissued and reprinted, but the lack of volume numbering and publication dates complicates bibliographic analysis. The print runs of individual editions are also unknown. Selected volumes were reissued by units under the jurisdiction of the Polish government-in-exile (''Lviv'', [[Jerusalem]] 1944; ''Sea and Pomerania'', Jerusalem 1946), and later by the Rybotycki couple, both in [[Nuremberg]] (fragments) and London (''Polish Forests'' with an afterword ''Faithful Forest'' by [[Zofia Kossak-Szczucka|Zofia Kossak]] about the Polish partisan movement 1940–1944, London 1953; ''Between the Niemen and the Dzvina'' with an afterword ''Faithful Land'' by [[Antoni Bogusławski]], London 1955),<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jagodziński |first=Zdzisław |date=2000-04-12 |title=W pierwszą rocznicę zgonu Ireny Rybotyckiej. Krzewicielka polskiej książki |journal=Dziennik Polski |language=pl |location=London |page=6}}</ref> as well as in Poland – through Anna Łempicka.
The series included 4 monographs of Polish cities and 10 monographs of regions:<ref name=":0" />
* Cities:
** [[Aleksander Janowski]]: ''Warsaw'' (1930)
** [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]: ''Lviv'' (1931)
** [[Jerzy Remer]]: ''Vilnius'' (1934)
** [[Jan Kilarski]]: ''Gdańsk'' (1938), also published in English
* Regions:
** [[Jerzy Smoleński]]: ''Sea and Pomerania'' (1928), also published in English
** Jerzy Smoleński: ''Greater Poland'' (1930)
** [[Gustaw Morcinek]]: ''Silesia'' (1933), also published in English
** [[Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski]]: ''Polesie'' (1934)
** [[Rafał Malczewski]]: ''Tatra Mountains and Podhale'' (1935)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Polish Forests'' (1936)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Hutsul Region, Gorgany, and Chornohora'' (1936)
** [[Aleksander Patkowski]]: ''Sandomierz Region. Świętokrzyskie Mountains'' (1938)
** [[Tadeusz Łopalewski]]: ''Between the Niemen and the Dzvina. Vilnius and Novogrudok Region'' (1938)
** F. Antoni Ossendowski: ''Carpathian Mountains and Subcarpathia'' (1939)
* Unpublished:
** [[Ksawery Pruszyński]]: ''Volhynia''
** [[Stanisław Wasylewski]]: ''Polish Life in the 19th Century''
During the [[Polish People's Republic]] era, books in the series concerning the [[Kresy|Eastern Borderlands]] were put on an index. War losses were compounded by library policies, which disposed of "inconvenient" titles. Some books were also stolen, and the surviving copies are often damaged. As a result, books in good condition became very valuable, with auction prices for some series reaching up to 500 PLN in the early 21st century. Many volumes of the series were reissued after 1989 by several publishing houses, but the quality of these books differs significantly from the original versions.<ref name=":13" />
==== Monographic studies ====
* {{Cite journal |last=Rausz |first=Monika |year=2006 |title="Cuda Polski" Rudolfa Wegnera: historia edycji |journal=Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis Studia ad Bibliothecarum Scientiam Pertinentia |language=pl |volume=4 |pages=156–166}}<ref name=":4" />
* {{Cite journal |last=Nowak |first=Adam |date=2008-12-12 |title="Cuda Polski", czyli Rudolf Wegner rediviva |journal=Wiadomości Księgarskie |language=pl |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=80–85}}<ref name=":13" />
==== ''Collected Works'' by Maria Rodziewiczówna ====
The Polish Publishing House released all the works of the highly popular [[Maria Rodziewiczówna]]. By 1939, 36 volumes had been published. During the occupation, the publishing house obtained exclusive rights to publish the author's works. The books were reissued by the emigrant government during the war, and later by the Rybotyckis – in Nuremberg, London, and Warsaw.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Harvard citation text|Szpinger|1974|pp=168, 183–184}}</ref>
==== ''Yellow Books'' ====
[[File:Stanisław hr. Mycielski - W sercu dżungli - okładka.png|thumb|[[Stanisław Mycielski]]: ''In the Heart of the Jungle'' (1933)]]
This series consisted of cheaper crime novels by contemporary Polish and foreign authors, inspired by the German ''Die Gelben Bücher'' (''Ullstein Verlag''). Despite their lighter, often criminal themes, they were positively reviewed. Between 1928 and 1934, over 40 volumes were published in print runs of up to 10,000 copies. Unlike the publications discussed above, the ''Yellow Books'' were only available in paperback.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" />
==== ''Film – Romance. Illustrated Novel Weekly'' ====
A series of 20 weekly volumes edited by F. Antoni Ossendowski, published in 1938. These short, 16-page brochures, priced at 0.20 PLN, illustrated with stills from films, popularized film works, especially foreign ones.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Film-Romans. Numery 2-20 (1938) |url=http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/publication/110438?tab=1 |access-date=2013-09-16 |website=Wielkopolska Biblioteka Cyfrowa |language=pl}}</ref>
== Printing houses ==
The publishing house collaborated with the best Polish printing houses, allowing for the production of high-quality products. In Lviv, it utilized its own printing plant, the ''Polish Publishing House Press'', since 1921. In Poznań, the main printing house for the publishing house became ''[[Concordia (printer)|Concordia]]''. Additionally, it collaborated with other printing establishments, including the ''Graphic Works of the Polish Library'' in Bydgoszcz, the Kraków-based ''National Printing House'' and ''Printing House of Ludwik Anczyc and Company'', as well as several printing houses in Poznań: ''St. Adalbert Printing House'', ''Printing House of "Poradnik Gospodarczy"'' of [[Jan Kuglin]], ''Printing House of the Union of Youth'', ''Polish Printing House'', and ''Poznań Printing House'' and ''the National Plant T. A''. Some illustrations were printed in Nuremberg. In post-war Poland, printing was mainly conducted at the ''Toruń Graphic Works''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> During the war, matrices of illustrations for children's books survived in Nuremberg,<ref name=":15" /> and possibly some matrices of the ''Wonders of Poland'' were taken from Poznań to Warsaw at the beginning of the occupation.<ref name=":4" />
== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />
== References ==
<references />
== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Szpinger |first=Stefan |title=Na szerokiej drodze |publisher=Wydawnictwo Łódzkie |year=1974 |location=Łódź |language=pl |ref={{sfnref|Szpinger|1974}}}}
[[Category:Book publishing companies of Poland]]
[[Category
oznań]]Okumaya devam et...