Reference work for jewellers, smiths, dealers and collectors of gold, silver, gemstones and coins, 1905

[Wilhelm Fischer]: Nachschlagebuch für Juweliere, Gold- und Silberschmiede. [Reference Book for Jewellers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths.] Herausgegeben von dem Verband Deutscher Juweliere, Gold- und Silberschmiede. 2nd editon. With over 300 depicted German trademarks. Enclosed: Otto Lauer: Tabelle über Feingehalt, Rauhgewicht und Feingewicht der Silbermünzen und Goldmünzen der Welt. [Table on the Fineness, Gross Weight and Net Weight of The World's Silver and Gold Coins.] Berlin and Pforzheim: Self published and Otto Lauer, 1905 and s.a. [ca. 1931].

8vo. [12] 573 [1]; [2] IV, 64 pages. Letterpress and cliché, in the original Art Nouveau cloth with pictorial cover and spine title (signed „LC“ or „CL“) in black and white on ruby red stock, incorporating the emblem or the »German Jeweller's Association«, as well as patterned end papers.

Second and last, substantially enlarged edition of this comprehensive reference work for jewellers, smiths, dealers and collectors of gold, silver, gemstones and coins.

Edition, Content: Compiled by Wilhelm Fischer, a Berlin based expert and then president of the »German Jeweller's Association« (founded in 1900), present volume is a most comprehensive hand-book for all aspects of the trade in Germany with gold, silver, but also gemstones like diamonds, as well as coins: Sources of supply, trademarks, technical features like fineness, gross and net weights, analysis of market participants, insurance, training including regulations for exams, list of association members etc.

Originally published in 1902, present second and last edition of this work is significantly enlarged by around 100 page, which also includes a remarkably extensive supplement of 70 pages with partly illustrated adverts.

Enclosure: Enclosed to this copy is a very rare table meticulously reporting fineness, gross weight and net weight of the world's silver and gold coins, published by the Pforzheim based dealer Otto Lauer in 1931.

Provenance: Typographic stamp of goldsmith „Carl Zanders P. Geenen Nachf.“ from Kevelaer.

Condition: Cover at corners and edges minimally worn, top edge with little staining, some of the trademarks marked with pencil, otherwise well preserved copy indeed.

Holdings, Rarity: Scarce in trade and institutions alike. OCLC/WorldCat and KVK show only 4 copies at all of the 2nd edition in institutional holdings worldwide (Berlin [StaBi, 2 copies], Stadtmuseum; Stuttgart (Wirtschaftsarchiv Baden-Württemberg). According to RBH only 2 copies were ever offered at auction (2010, 2005).