K. Heinrich Krause, Grossenhain/Saxony

The company behind the K.H.K.G. logo

Quite real photo cards with his unusual logo on are still found today. However, little information on this business described as fine arts company/-publisher has surfaced so far.
A local address book issued in 1905-06 lists a single Karl Heinrich Krause at Grossenhain (popl. c. 12.000), rural district of Meissen, only. Book dealer, stationery shop, antiquarian, postcards retailer/wholesaler. Business established on 1 December 1900. K. Heinrich Krause found at Johannesallee 8, quite up-to-date then with own telephone line and 3-digit number.
An advert in Wochenschrift für den Schreibwarenhandel published mid-February 1907 shows the logo and mentions an own colouring shop but little else of interest. Krause had an own stall at the 1907 Leipzig Paper trade fair. But when did he start his bromide card publishing business?
K. Heinrich Krause, Kunstverlag Grossenhain, was converted into a limited company effective 1 July 1907. Company name read now: K. Heinrich Krause, Kunstanstalt und Kunstverlag GmbH. Business capital 51,000 Marks. Krause held 20,000 Marks business capital. Bruno Beyer, nature healing master from Grossenhain (Johannesallee 16), held another 10,000 Marks share. Likely capital he had lent Krause before.

Krause used a typical for postcard series numbering, e.g. 1015/5 = series 1015, card design 5. Postally used in mid February 1907 and the earliest postal date of my K.H.K.G. cards accumulation. The highest number I have reads 2595/3 p/u February 1913. No 3-digit Krause series found so far. There is a good chance that K.H. Krause started his series numbering with 1000.
K.H.K.G. was for some time member of NBC (Neue Bromsilber Convention) the bromide photo printer/publisher price cartell. Not mentioned in the new set up NBC group of 1 October 1912, however.
Only recently I discovered a short business notice in "Papier-Zeitung", 1 February 1912 issue. It says that Bruno Beyer had become new managing director of K.H.K.G. GmbH some time in January 1912. The Krause business appears to have disappeared silently then. Or was merged with the new B. Beyer business. No serious data found so far.

K.H. Krause becomes Bruno Beyer

Then I discovered a business notice dating from early May 1912. A new business was registered: Bruno Beyer Kunstanstalt-Kunstverlag, Grossenhain. Trade with bromide photo postcards and similar articles. Owner Bernhard Bruno Beyer. Very likely this was a direct follow-up to the Krause business by former partner.

By chance I came recently across a (surprising!) Bruno Beyer business listing in Klimsch directory 1914. (see ill.) It reads that Beyer company (establ. 1912) had an own bromide photo printing plant, letterpress shop, book binding. Employed were 55 persons.
Now I am wondering how the logo or imprint looked like Beyer used. Perhaps he continued with the Krause logo? At least during the first years?

The Bruno Beyer bromide photo/printing business can be traced to 1925 at least. According an entry in Klimsch printing trade directory of that year.

K.H.K.G. cards and more on next page.