Emil Pinkau & Co

The Emil Pinkau Lithographic Art Institute was established on October 1, 1873, at 19 Brüderstraße, Leipzig. Initially focused on business printed materials, the company later expanded to include reproductions of old masters for art books and portfolios. By the late 1870s, the company had also begun specializing in postcards, making it one of the earliest manufacturers in this field.

Emil Pinkau (1850-1922) began with no capital, slowly equipping his factory over time. His first high-speed lithographic press was acquired in 1883. Pinkau worked tirelessly, both day and night, to build his business. The company’s growth necessitated several relocations starting in 1877. In 1898, a large new factory with its own railway connection was constructed at the corner of 15 Wittenberger Strasse and 13 Dessauer Strasse, which was further expanded in 1906 and 1910.

Pinkau quickly specialized in photolithographic views, initially producing Leporello albums, which are books of photographs in a concertina format. The high quality of Pinkau’s photolithographic work was recognized with the Grand State Prize for Leporello albums at the 1893 World Exhibition in Chicago.

The Lithographic Art Institute soon gained a reputation for its postcard printing. Pinkau was among the first to recognize the potential of this emerging mass medium. A 1911 letterhead advertised their specialty since 1879: large print runs of viewing postcards. Pinkau's focus remained on printing, as evidenced by the 1911 letterhead, which explicitly stated: "No publisher – only fabrication."

In 1902, Johannes Pinkau (1879-1958), Emil Pinkau’s eldest son, joined the company as technical manager, contributing significantly to innovations and advancements in the following years. By 1904, Pinkau had transformed his sole proprietorship into a stock corporation, Emil Pinkau & Co AG. In 1903, company letterheads noted 16 high-speed presses and 40 auxiliary machines, growing to 32 high-speed presses and 150 auxiliary machines by 1911. The workforce also expanded from 200 employees in 1904 to 450 in 1911.

In 1909, Dr. Trenkler & Co AG, a major competitor in the postcard industry, sold off its publishing division. By 1938, Emil Pinkau AG had claimed most of the profits from the Trenkler-Verlag.

For more information: TPA article 15