Gusztáv Emich

Gusztáv Emich (Buda, 3 November 1814 - Pest, 3 April 1869) bookseller, publisher, printer. Son of Ifj. Gusztáv Emich, publisher, writer on printing history and natural history.

Biography

Father, Franz Emich a master baker, came to Pest from Silesia; he took the oath of citizenship in 1812. He later married a wealthy bourgeoise, Klara Czigelmaister. Gusztáv Emich began his studies at the Hungarian Piarist monastery in Pest, then studied law at the University of Pest, but later chose a career as a bookseller. He first worked in the bookshop of József Eggenberger, then spent several years gaining professional experience in Paris, Leipzig and Vienna, where he married, before returning to Pest, where he settled permanently. In 1842, he opened his 'national bookshop' in Kígyó tér. In a short time he became one of the most popular figures in Hungarian literary life. His bookshop became a meeting place for the political and literary leaders of the time. This role of the bookshop was so appreciated by István Széchenyi that he accepted Gusztáv Emich as a member of the National Casino, which was modelled on the English clubs. Among the shop's clientele, and later among Emich's friends, we find Ferenc Toldy, József Eötvös, and other great writers such as Zsigmond Kemény and Mórt Jókai. In addition to his activities as a bookseller and book bibliographer, Emich also started a publishing business. Recognising the growing national and patriotic sentiment, he soon became one of the best-known patrons of Hungarian literature. Emich, for example, recognised Petőfi's talent. The poet had already approached Emich in 1841 to publish his poems, but at that time the publishers had not yet seen any imagination in him. In 1844, however, he published the poem The Hammer of the Village, which proved to be a good business, and further editions were published regularly. The contract was originally for a single edition, but a few months later Emich approached Petőfi again and bought the right to publish his poems for 1500 pengo. The second edition was published in 1848. In the spring of 1848, he changed the title of the magazine he founded, Honderű, to Reform. The paper was published twice a week, with eight pages. The editors were Lajos Nádaskay and Gusztáv Zerffi. The slogan under the headline was 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity'. From the beginning of July 1848, Reform became a daily newspaper, and its articles fought for freedom of the press. The paper ran for a total of four months. After the defeat of the War of Independence, a large part of Gusztáv Emich's publications were confiscated for his services to the government of '48. His business partner, Rudolf Eisenfels, was imprisoned in chains for the proclamations and pamphlets printed in his printing press during the War of Independence. Emich, however, was allowed to continue working as a silent partner in the printing house. On 9 March 1850, the first issue of the Pesti Napló was published and printed at Eisenfels' printing house. Emich became the official publisher of the paper on 25 July. Eisenfels was released on amnesty in July 1850. They then worked together until 1852, when Eisenfels ceded ownership to Gusztáv Emich. The printing house was then located in the house on the corner of Úri Street and Zsibárus (Párisi) Street.

Gusztáv Emich was given the title of "Printer of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences" at the meeting of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on 18 April 1860. The printing of the MTA's publications consolidated his position and brought him a steady stream of orders. As the MTA also demanded a high level of sophistication, Emich constantly improved and modernised his printing press. The opportunities for capitalist industrial development following the Compromise of 1867, and the accelerated development of the company, encouraged Gusztáv Emich to found a joint-stock company. The company was founded on 3 July 1868. Athenaeum Literary and Printing Company Ltd. members include distinguished representatives of both banking capital and literature. The first board of directors included the banker Jakab Deutsch, Kálmán Kandó, Zsigmond Kemény and Mór Jókai. The director was Gusztáv Emich. The capital-rich joint-stock company developed well, and in the very year of its foundation it bought János Wolf's foundry and set the replacement of the slow presses with more productive ones.

During his twenty-six years as a publisher, he published 663 works, 629 of which were in Hungarian. His printing house in the Sándor Palace in Ferenciek Square continued to develop. With about 200 employees, it was the largest printing house in Hungary in the early sixties. For his activities in the printing industry, Gustáv Emich was granted the nobility of Emőke by the Hungarian government on the recommendation of Franz Joseph. He died of consumption on 3 April 1869 in Pest. He was laid to rest in the National Tomb Garden among his distinguished colleagues. The company was managed by Emich's son, ifj. Gusztáv Emich took over.

Publications

Emich is the publisher of the Pesti Hírlap, the Budapest Hírlap, the Hungarian Post, the Pesti Hírnök, the New Hungarian Museum, the Hon, the Koszorú, the Fővárosi Lapok, the Szépirodalmi Lapok, the Budapest Képes Újság, the 1848, Gyermekbarát, Ifjúság, the Hungarian Academy Bulletin, Statistical Bulletins, Miksa Fool and many other newspapers and magazines. He was responsible for the publication of two volumes on Mihály Táncsics: the History of Hungarians and Hungarian Linguistics. In 1858 he published the Encyclopaedia on behalf of the Szent István Society, and from 1864 he published the stage pages of the National Theatre. From 1866 he printed the Parliamentary publications and from 1867 the official publications of the Postal Administration. In 1867 Gustáv Emich published the Vienna Pictorial Chronicle, which won the gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition. Among the foreign writers published were works by Dumas, Dickens, Voltaire and Molière. The bulk of Gustáv Emich's publications were from the MTA. Antal Lontai Sándor Sándor: Gusztáv Emich, "Hungarian Academic Printer", In.

Sources

• Gábor Kelecsényi: The Emichek in Pest, In: Budapest, 1987/3, pp. 37-40.
• Hungarian biographical lexicon, edited by Ágnes Kenyeres, Bp., Akadémiai Kiadó, 1981, 421. p.
• Peter Pilinyi: The pioneers of Hungarian printing in the 19th century, [Dombóvár], Pátria Ny., 1994, pp. 26-29.
• István Torda: Petőfi's publisher : Gusztáv Emich was born 175 years ago, In: The book, 1984/4, pp. 117-124.
• Oszkár Végh: Printing in Hungary : chapters from the 500-year history of printing in Hungary, Bp., Táncsics Könyvkiadó, 1976, pp. 61-65.

Source: wikipedia