Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Vienna

Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Vienna, was a Viennese antiquarian book and art dealership that for over a century was regarded as the "first house on the square" in its field. Its shop, located in the heart of Vienna's inner city at the corner of Bognergasse and Tuchlauben — precisely at the endpoints of the best-known Viennese shopping streets, the Graben and the Kohlmarkt — was one of the internationally most renowned centres of the antiquarian book trade. The business was founded in the summer of 1883 as a retail bookshop by Hermann Gilhofer (1852–1913), who had previously served as a procurator at the firm Franz Leo. On 1 October 1884 the 24-year-old Heinrich Ranschburg (1860–1914) joined as a partner. He expanded the firm's activities into the antiquarian trade and thus became the actual founder of the business, which within barely a decade would rank among the most important in its field. When Hermann Gilhofer left the firm in 1903, its world reputation was already secure: the auctions of valuable books and art organised by Ranschburg brought buyers from all over Europe and overseas to Vienna, including not only important private collectors but also the world's leading libraries and public collections. By 1912 alone, almost 200 stock catalogues and lists had appeared; in 1924 a branch was established in Lucerne. Highlights of this period included the auctions of the libraries of Metternich and Dietrichstein as well as the collections of Tsars Nicholas I and Alexander II and Tsarina Catherine II, and also the sale of duplicates from the Albertina. At that time the stock comprised approximately 300,000 books, 100,000 sheets of graphic art and 25,000 autographs. Numerous later antiquarians learned their trade here, and Rudolf Bing (1902–1997), the long-serving director of the New York Metropolitan Opera, also began his apprenticeship here at the age of seventeen. When Heinrich Ranschburg died in 1914, he was succeeded as managing director by his widow Ida as well as Ernst Philip Goldschmidt (1887–1954) and Wilhelm Heinrich Schab (1888–1975). Goldschmidt, himself a collector and long-time customer of the house, was later praised by professional colleagues as "the most learned antiquarian there ever was". Goldschmidt left the antiquarian bookshop in 1923 to open his own in London. After his departure, Ranschburg's son Otto (1900–1985) joined the firm. Another employee was the bookseller Friedrich Steinert, who also received procuration. From 1936, Wilhelm Schab, Elisabeth Margulies née Ranschburg and Anna Epstein née Ranschburg, as a silent partner, were owners of the antiquarian bookshop. Otto Ranschburg had previously divided his shares between Wilhelm Schab and Elisabeth Margulies. He nevertheless remained managing director. With the Anschluss of Austria to the German Reich and the National Socialists' seizure of power, persecution of Jews began immediately. As part of this persecution, all Jewish entrepreneurs were expropriated. Jewish booksellers too were robbed of their property. Often competitors or colleagues of the affected entrepreneurs were behind "Aryanisation" schemes, seeking to acquire the stolen business cheaply. So it was in the case of Gilhofer. First, a few months after the German invasion, managing director Otto Ranschburg was removed from office. Then the bookshop was seized and an asset administrator was appointed for the "Aryanisation". As early as 8 September 1938, Friedrich Steinert, the firm's Aryan procurator, and with him the antiquarian Hans Werner Taeuber, a competitor from Munich with excellent SS connections, registered as interested buyers. A new company, Gilhofer & Ranschburg Antiquariats Gesellschaft m.b.H., was founded, which legally took over the Jewish firm in spring 1939. Even before the notarial contract was concluded, another interested party had come forward.

The business was founded in the summer of 1883 as a retail bookshop by Hermann Gilhofer (1852–1913), who had previously served as a procurator at the firm Franz Leo. On 1 October 1884 the 24-year-old Heinrich Ranschburg (1860–1914) joined as a partner. He expanded the firm's activities into the antiquarian trade and thus became the actual founder of the business, which within barely a decade would rank among the most important in its field. When Hermann Gilhofer left the firm in 1903, its world reputation was already secure: the auctions of valuable books and art organised by Ranschburg brought buyers from all over Europe and overseas to Vienna, including not only important private collectors but also the world's leading libraries and public collections. By 1912 alone, almost 200 stock catalogues and lists had appeared; in 1924 a branch was established in Lucerne. Highlights of this period included the auctions of the libraries of Metternich and Dietrichstein as well as the collections of Tsars Nicholas I and Alexander II and Tsarina Catherine II, and also the sale of duplicates from the Albertina. At that time the stock comprised approximately 300,000 books, 100,000 sheets of graphic art and 25,000 autographs. Numerous later antiquarians learned their trade here, and Rudolf Bing (1902–1997), the long-serving director of the New York Metropolitan Opera, also began his apprenticeship here at the age of seventeen. When Heinrich Ranschburg died in 1914, he was succeeded as managing director by his widow Ida as well as Ernst Philip Goldschmidt (1887–1954) and Wilhelm Heinrich Schab (1888–1975). Goldschmidt, himself a collector and long-time customer of the house, was later praised by professional colleagues as "the most learned antiquarian there ever was". Goldschmidt left the antiquarian bookshop in 1923 to open his own in London. After his departure, Ranschburg's son Otto (1900–1985) joined the firm. Another employee was the bookseller Friedrich Steinert, who also received procuration. From 1936, Wilhelm Schab, Elisabeth Margulies née Ranschburg and Anna Epstein née Ranschburg, as a silent partner, were owners of the antiquarian bookshop. Otto Ranschburg had previously divided his shares between Wilhelm Schab and Elisabeth Margulies. He nevertheless remained managing director. With the Anschluss of Austria to the German Reich and the National Socialists' seizure of power, persecution of Jews began immediately. As part of this persecution, all Jewish entrepreneurs were expropriated. Jewish booksellers too were robbed of their property. Often competitors or colleagues of the affected entrepreneurs were behind "Aryanisation" schemes, seeking to acquire the stolen business cheaply. So it was in the case of Gilhofer. First, a few months after the German invasion, managing director Otto Ranschburg was removed from office. Then the bookshop was seized and an asset administrator was appointed for the "Aryanisation". As early as 8 September 1938, Friedrich Steinert, the firm's Aryan procurator, and with him the antiquarian Hans Werner Taeuber, a competitor from Munich with excellent SS connections, registered as interested buyers. A new company, Gilhofer & Ranschburg Antiquariats Gesellschaft m.b.H., was founded, which legally took over the Jewish firm in spring 1939. Even before the notarial contract was concluded, another interested party had come forward. Adolf Ziegler, president of the Reich Chamber of Fine Arts, allegedly acquired the majority of shares for the Reich Chamber of Fine Arts. The old managing director Otto Ranschburg was summoned to the Hotel Metropol, the Gestapo headquarters, and forced under threats to conclude the contract, which was very disadvantageous for the owners of the bookshop. Taeuber and Steinert became managing directors. The buyers had to pay only a fraction of the true value for the company. The old owners of the bookshop received nothing from the proceeds. After the Second World War, the firm continued under the name Gilhofer & Ranschburg and remains active today as an antiquarian book and art dealership in Vienna, operating a website at buchgilhofer.at.

• 1939

  Gilhofer & Ranschburg Antiquariats Gesellschaft m.b.H. legally takes over the Jewish firm in spring; Taeuber and Steinert become managing directors.

• 1938

  After the Anschluss, Otto Ranschburg is removed from office; on 8 September Friedrich Steinert and Hans Werner Taeuber register as interested buyers.

• 1936

  Wilhelm Schab, Elisabeth Margulies née Ranschburg and Anna Epstein née Ranschburg become owners.

• 1924

  A branch is established in Lucerne.

• 1923

  Ernst Philip Goldschmidt leaves to open his own antiquarian bookshop in London; Otto Ranschburg joins the firm.

• 1914

  Heinrich Ranschburg dies; Ida Ranschburg, Ernst Philip Goldschmidt and Wilhelm Heinrich Schab become managing directors.

• 1912

  Almost 200 stock catalogues and lists had appeared by this year.

• 1903

  Hermann Gilhofer leaves the firm; its world reputation is already secure.

• 1884

  Heinrich Ranschburg joins as partner on 1 October; firm trades as Gilhofer und Ranschburg and expands into antiquarian trade.

• 1883

  Founded in summer as a retail bookshop by Hermann Gilhofer.

One of the internationally most renowned centres of the antiquarian book trade, long regarded as Vienna's leading antiquarian book and art dealership.

• Antiquarian books and rare books

• Graphic art and prints

• Autographs and manuscripts

• Auction catalogues and stock lists

1. 1Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Vienna — Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Gilhofer und Ranschburg — Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org