Based in Nuremberg, Germany
Theodor Stroefer, or Ströfer (27 March 1843, in Bad Pyrmont – 9 July 1927, in Nuremberg) was a German publisher; specializing in illustrated books.
He learned the profession of publisher by working at Bruckmann Verlag in Munich. Then he was sent to New York City in 1866 to set up a commercial agency on Broadway. There, he imported and exported pictures, creating illustrated books and albums from engravings and photographs. In 1871 he teamed up with Georg Kirchner, who had emigrated from Frankfurt an der Oder; starting a publishing firm called "Stroefer & Kirchner".
In 1876, he returned to Germany and opened a branch office in Munich. The following year, their company split into two divisions, with Stroefer operating "Theo. Stroefer’s Kunstverlag", dealing exclusively with Europe, and Kirchner operating "Geo. Kirchner & Co.", for North America. In 1893, he relocated his company's headquarters to Nuremberg and began a close collaboration with the Kunstanstalt für graphische Reproductionen, owned by Ernest Nister, creator of the modern pop-up book.
Most of his activity while operating "Theo. Stroefer’s Kunstverlag" was publishing children's picture books. As a sideline, he published postcards, with images provided by Nathaniel Sichel, Raphael Kirchner, Arthur Thiele, among others.
After his death, his son August (1882-1945), took over the company. During World War II, their offices and publishing archives were completely destroyed.
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