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Almanach de Gotha
The Almanach de Gotha was once a historic directory of European royalty and higher nobility. First published in 1763 by C.W. Ettinger in Gotha for the court of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, the publication originated in the later years of the Holy Roman Empire. Although not a legal or official publication, the Almanach served as a social register among European monarchies and their courts, and was used for protocol purposes among reigning and non-reigning, princely and ducal families. Genealogical and biographical details of Europe's highest echelons of aristocracy were typically provided. Justus Perthes Publishing House in Gotha began publishing the Almanach annually from 1785-1944 until the Soviets destroyed the Almanach de Gotha's archives in WWII during their occupation of Gotha. In 1998, a new publication using the name Almanach de Gotha began. A London-based private publisher is said to have acquired the rights for use of the original publication's name from Justus Perthes. The new publishers produced a number of editions. Critics lament that the new additions appear to have no formal or official connection to royal houses of Europe in the way that the original Gotha once did. Even Justus Perthes is said to consider them to to be "new works" rather an accurate continuation of the original Almanach de Gotha. Perthes states on a website: "After World War II, publishing of 'The Gotha' had to cease. The genuine 'Gotha' has not been re-published or re-issued since 1944."*
* www.perthes.de
The Almanac of Würzburg is a publication of the Noble Company Press, Noble Company of Saint Mary of Walsingham; a private, non-profit organization not connected with the Federal Republic of Germany or any other civil state. Entire contents copyright © 2014-2023. All rights reserved. |
