Book printer Christoph Froschauer lays the foundation stone for Orell Füssli
In 2019, the Orell Füssli Group, headquartered in Zurich, will look back on 500 years of corporate history. This has helped shape Swiss cultural and economic events beyond Zurich. The success story began with the book printer Christoph Froschauer.
When the trained printer Christoph Froschauer from Bavaria was granted Zurich citizenship on November 9, 1519, the foundation stone for Orell Füssli was laid. Thanks to Froschauer's publishing flair, a printing and publishing center with European appeal quickly developed, as Adrian Scherrer, archivist at Orell Füssli, explained to the media on Monday.
For also in 1519, Huldrych Zwingli took over the office of lieutenant priest at the Grossmünster in Zurich. The two men became friends, and Froschauer became Zwingli's publisher. In 1531, the "Zwingli Bible" appeared, a tour de force of early book art. According to Scherrer, the two-color title page is particularly unusual.
Since each sheet had to be printed individually, it took several weeks to complete the book. It also had a hefty price tag; Scherrer speaks of "two months' wages.
Froschauer died of the plague in 1564. During his lifetime he published over 700 books and also printed official pamphlets and maps.
Much has happened in the company since Froschauer's death. This is also reflected in the commemorative publication "500 Years of Printing. The lavishly designed illustrated book marks the start of the anniversary year.
Publishing is now only one of four business divisions. As a diversified industrial and commercial group, Orell Füssli operates the core businesses of banknote & security printing, industrial systems for the serialization of banknotes and security documents, book retailing and publishing.
Orell Füssli generates sales of some CHF 250 million with some 800 employees at locations in five countries. The company is listed on the Swiss stock exchange.
He looks at the company's history with awe, said company CEO Martin Buyle to the media. Such a long existence was made possible by innovation, proximity to the customer and the passion of the employees. Of course, a bit of luck and a stable political environment are also needed.
It is also important to allow for mistakes. This results in important learning experiences, Buyle continued. He is convinced that books will continue to exist despite digitalization. He assumes a "coexistential approach, not a replacement.
In 1914, Orell Füssli printed the first Swiss banknotes for the Swiss National Bank. It was "amazing how much innovation is contained in a banknote," Buyle said proudly. Christoph Froschauer must have been similarly proud when he held the "Zwingli Bible" weighing several kilograms in his hands. (SDA)
