Stern & Schiele, Berlin

The Early Years

Stern & Schiele was another little-known German (collotype) postcard printer and publisher with a longer, but in parts complex, company history. "Set up in second half of 1902 and run by Felix Stern and Waldemar Schiele at Hauptstr. 8, Berlin-Schöneberg". This is the information you find in later issued trade directories/literature. Not correct, however. It refers to the fine arts printing company Stern & Rothenberger, run by Felix Stern and Christian Rothenberger, found at Hauptstr. 7a and house no. 8 on 4th floor. C. Rothenberger (painter/illustrator) left the business partnership in second half of 1903 already. Waldemar Schiele joined instead in early 1904 and the company was renamed into Stern & Schiele. (officially registered in June 1904) Production was now concentrated at Hauptstr. 8, the previous 7a address given up and an office opened at Bahnstr. 22 instead. By the way, Hauptstr. 8, Berlin-Schöneberg was the home of big Meisenbach, Riffarth & Co.

Daughter company Dammeyer & Co.

Otto Dammeyer, postcard publisher and dealer in fancy paper articles (establ. 1900), also export, from Dresdenerstr. 80 had run into financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy early February 1903. The business was relauned by S&S the next (officially registered June 1904) year as Dammeyer & Co., artists‘ cards and fine art publishers at home address of S&S (as daughter company using the D. & Co. B. initials first and later own logo). By about 1910 S&S got rid of D. & Co., B. again. O. Dammeyer and partner took over again, continued as Otto Dammeyer & Co. in ppc and fancy paper trade.

New S&S business partner

The postcard printing/publishing business must had run well. They had 7 collotype presses for production and own colouring and bookbinding shop. A new business partner named Dr. phil. Ludwig Lippmann joined Stern & Schiele and replaced Christian Waldemar Schiele in September 1907. Schiele became business partner of another collotype (postcard!) printing business. Hoegelein & Schwabe, establ. 1896, was found on the 4th floor of Ritterstr. 45, Berlin SW. Previously run by W. Högelein and H. Schwabe. Then came Schiele and Hermann Schwabe left. He turned up again in other printing businesses later.
S&S moved into bigger premises some time early 1908. Company now found at Dresdener Str. 43 where they stayed for more than 20 years.

Difficult times and a new owner

S&S had an own patent (no. 250,851, class 57, chapter d, registered on 13 December 1910) for the preparation of printing formes/negatives for full colour collotype process. A number of other German printers held patents for "Farbenlichtdruck", which was when entirely done on a collotype press a really complicated and slow matter. But, in case of S&S there were a number of postcards printed by their own patent indeed.

By 1914 Stern & Schiele employed 106 workers, had 10 flatbed collotype presses plus a single handpress, 8 other machines and offered collotype printing, book binding, embossing and colouring shop. Own publishing business. The company was specialised in postcards, catalogues, art prints and illustrated tables.
Since about 1912 S&S had a second business address, a branch at Neanderstr. 16, Berlin S.O. 16. Moved into the rooms of Alfred Ruckenbrod, a 1903 set up copper gravure printing business, specialist for (coloured) photo gravure printing and photography. From about 1915 on S&S had a photo studio at this address.

By mid 1918 Dr. Lippmann left the business partnership and Felix Stern was sole owner. Erich Sandberg joined as new partner in 1919.
Felix Stern died on 1 February 1920 in the age of just 45 years. Erich Sandberg was sole owner now. S&S‘s workforce dropped to 80 workers in 1921.

Stern & Schiele group of companies

In 1923 S&S took over Fabian & Co. Graphische Kunstanstalt GmbH, originally from Breslau and now found at Dresdener Str. 43. The origins of this company go back to the 1880‘s, then became Erste Schlesische Lichtdruck- und graphische Kunstanstalt A. Fabian & Co. Declared insolvency in 1902 and was continued as Schlesische Lichtdruck- u. graph. Kunstanstalt Fabian & Co. GmbH.

The S&S boss Erich Sandberg, assisted by company secretaries Arthur Bremer and Erich Meyer, took over another collotype printing business. W. Neumann & Co., formerly Gustav Neumann, established in 1880 and found at Wassertorstr. 42. Collotype printing, photography. Specialised in book illustrations, sample books and postcards.

That may answer why S&S is listed by mid 1920‘s with following figures: letterpress, litho and collotype printers, industrial and landscape photography. 2 flatbed and 4 other letterpress machines, 3 flatbed and two smaller format litho presses, 14 collotype presses, 22 other machines and 110 workers employed.
The Klimsch 1928 printing trade directory lists same number of letterpress and litho presses but now 18 collotype presses, and even 2 new installed gravure presses and a total of 65 other machines for production. Wow.
This situation lasted not very long. Klimsch 1930 edition shows a different picture. The production plant had been reduced but modernized: 2 letterpress, an offset rotation and a litho press, 2 gravure rotation and some 7 collotype presses mentioned. No workforce figures.

Company move and new name

The times were difficult then. Also for S&S who appear to have run into financial difficulties in 1931. The company was continued as Stern & Schiele GmbH in 1932, moved to Köpenicker Str. 113. By the way, the postcard publisher Arthur Rehn & Co. was also found at this address. The new co-owner (investor) of the limited S & S company was Alex Oppel. Managing director was Arthur Bremer and previous owner Erich Sandberg (still owner of W. Neumann & Co.) was company secretary. S&S GmbH was specialised in subject and picture postcards, catalogues and cigarette cards. A 1933 trade directory mentions no collotype presses anymore but 3 letterpress, 1 offset, 2 litho and 2 gravure presses. 60-70 workers.

By 1935 the company name read Druck- u. Verlagsgesellschaft Stern & Schiele with identical directors/managers. No offset anymore but collotype mentioned again. Less than 60 workers. In 1937 and 1939 Klimsch editions it reads Druck- u. Verlagsgesellschaft formerly Stern & Schiele, owner Arthur Bremer. Another gravure press installed, 65 workers. By 1941 the business name Druck- und Verlagsgesellschaft Arthur Bremer turns up finally.
No information found yet that the nusiness survived the destructions of WW2.

S&S Card Identification

The earliest card with clear Stern & Schiele mention shows a view from Breslau/Wrocław. See ill. It was mailed late February 1904. The undivided back shows a specific designed "Postkarte" which is often found on S&S printed/published cards. In most cases cards with this particular "Postkarte" imprint on are S&S made.
There are a few cards known by the collotype printer Willfried Deyhle GmbH, Berlin (establ. 1906), showing same "Postkarte" design. They do show also identical writing line arrangement (see ill.) of divided S&S cards. Some evidence found that S&S worked for Deyhle occassionally. Especially during the time when Deyhle company moved.

I show a typical Stern & Schiele divided address side layout from pre-1914 period. This sample shows a S&S logo, but there are quite some cards from various countries without logo found. The typical writing lines are found even on US card issues.
The "Postcard" imprint in four languages also good for quick identification (together with writing line arrangement). D. & Co., B. card issues do show a different UPU block design. See "Postcard Selection" on next page for sample.
Stern & Schiele, the relatively little-known ppc printer/publisher, surely produced many thousands of views.

Visit the Postcard Selection for more S. & S., B. / D. & Co., B. samples.