Ottmar Zieher

The publisher was born on August 7th, 1857 in Schwäbisch Gmünd,a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and died on November 27th, 1924 in Munich after a busy life.

Zieher opened his first company, a "paper and envelope shop", in 1880 in Munich, Damenstiftstrasse 6. This was followed by a stationery shop and a factory for jewelry goods at Sendlinger Strasse 1. In 1889 he opened a paper shop at Pfisterstrasse 6, which was expanded in 1890.

Finally, 1892/93, he opened the "Art Publishing House" at Hofstatt 6/1. Between 1890-1895 he established business connections in Leipzig, where he worked with the painter Arthur Thiele.

From 1900 the publisher was listed as follows in the commercial register: Postcard publisher Ottmar, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt, Munich-Leipzig, Hofstatt 6/1, Munich; production of postcards of all kinds; Specialty: artist postcards. In 1901, Zieher bought a house at Boosstrasse 8 (in der Au), to which he moved the facilities. Ottmar Zieher is listed in the address book of the time as the owner of the art establishment and purveyor to the court of HRH Prince Albert of Belgium. At this point, Zieher appeared as a patron of young artists. With a "retail business and wholesale tax, specificaly: picture postcards and artist postcards" Munich, Altheimereck 11, Zieher rounded off his business activities in 1911.

He was always active only as a publisher and not with the printing of cards. He had cards printed by one of two Munich companies: Karl Stücker and Hubert Köhler.

Due to the First World War, business processes were relocated to the factory at Boosstraße 8. His sons Ottmar Zieher Jr. and Franz Joseph Zieher joined the company in 1920.

After Ottmar Zieher Sr. died in 1924, his son Ottmar ran the art institute at Altheimereck 11 and the factory at Boosstraße 8. His brother was a co-owner of the company. The publishing house also survived the Second World War. In 1950 the company was finally entered in the commercial register as "postcard publisher Ottmar Zieher and Franz Zieher". The death of Ottmar Zieher Jr. in 1952 then led to the dissolution of the publishing house. His brother Franz Joseph died in 1968.

Zieher's legacy in the postcard industry remains profound, as his support for emerging artists through commissions cemented his status as a patron of the arts. Today, collectors and enthusiasts continue to cherish Zieher's postcards, particularly those from his esteemed artist series, a testament to their enduring appeal.

In 1900, Ottmar Zieher used chromolithography as the primary printing method for his postcards, including the “Gruss aus Karlsbad” series. For information about Chromolithography, read here.  

The “Gruss aus” or “Greetings from” type of postcard design became widespread around 1894-95, and Zieher was one of the well-known publishers who utilized chromolithography to create these visually appealing cards. The process was quite labor-intensive and required skilled lithographers and pressmen, as it involved numerous color runs and a longer production time. Despite the complexity, this method allowed for the creation of high-quality, artistic postcards that were sought after by collectors and the general public alike.

For more information, see Ottmar Zieher

Check these postcards from this publisher:

"Gruss aus" series Distorted Bodies

Rebecca having a bath