Meyers Konversations-Lexikon or Meyers Lexikon was a major encyclopedia in the German language that existed in various editions, and by several titles, from 1839 to 1984, when it merged with the Brockhaus Enzyklopädie. Joseph Meyer, who had founded the publishing houseBibliographisches Institut in 1826, intended to issue a universal encyclopaedia meant for a broad public: people having a general knowledge as well as businessmen, technicians and scholars, considering contemporary works like those of Heinrich August Pierer and Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus to be superficial or obsolete.
First edition
The first part of Das Grosse Conversations-Lexikon für die gebildeten Stände appeared in October 1839. In contrast to its contemporaries, it contained maps and illustrations with the text. There is no indication of the planned number of volumes or a time limit for this project, but little headway had been made by the otherwise dynamic Meyer. After six years, 14 volumes had appeared, covering only one fifth of the alphabet. Another six years passed before the last volume was published. Six supplementary volumes finally finished the work in 1855. Ultimately numbering 52 volumes, Das Grosse Conversations-Lexikon für die gebildeten Stände was the most comprehensive completed German encyclopedia of the 19th century, also called "der Wunder-Meyer". The complete set was reprinted 1858–59.
Later editions
The son of Joseph Meyer, Hermann Julius, published the next edition, entitled Neues Conversations-Lexikon für alle Stände, 1857–60, that would only count 15 volumes. To avoid a long-time project, subscribers were promised it would be completed within three years, and all volumes appearing later would be given free. Of course, it was finished right on time. , from the 4th edition. The 2nd edition, Neues Konversations-Lexikon, ein Wörterbuch des allgemeinen Wissens, appeared 1861–67; the 3rd edition, now from Leipzig, was issued as Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. Eine Encyklopädie des allgemeinen Wissens 1874–78; both had 15 volumes. The 4th edition, consisting of 16 volumes, appeared in 1885–90, with 2 supplements of update pages, volume 17 and volume 18. The 5th edition had 17 volumes, Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. Ein Nachschlagewerk des allgemeinen Wissens, 1893 to 1897. This edition sold no less than 233,000 sets. The 6th edition, entitled Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, was published 1902–08. It had 20 volumes, and the largest sale of all Meyer editions, with 240,000 sets. The First World War prevented an even bigger success. There was also the small 1908 edition, Meyers Kleines Konversations-Lexikon.
The 7th and 8th editions were both briefly named Meyers Lexikon. The 7th edition counted only 12 volumes, due to the economic depression of the twenties. It appeared in 1924–30. It came with a condensed single-volume version known as the volume number 12 could be issued. Due to its brown binding in addition to the fact that it was filtered through the Nazicensorship it has come to be known as Der Braune Meyer'', as brown became the colour associated with the Nazis. The buildings of the company were completely destroyed by the bombing raids on Leipzig in 1943–44 and the company itself expropriated in 1946 without compensation. In 1953 the place of business was moved to Mannheim in West Germany ; a "Volkseigener Betrieb" remained in Leipzig.
9th edition and ''''
The 9th edition, now from Mannheim, entitled Meyers Enzyklopädisches Lexikon in 25 Bänden, appeared in 1971–79. Just like the very first, this final Mannheim edition was the most comprehensive German encyclopaedia of the century. From Leipzig came Meyers Neues Lexikon, embedded in the Marxist ideology.
Merger with
In 1984, the Bibliographisches Institut Mannheim amalgamated with its biggest competitor in field of reference booksF.A. Brockhaus of Wiesbaden, in a so-called "Elefantenhochzeit". Being aware that the new firm's program did not provide room for two similar works of this magnitude, it was decided that the big serial reference works coming from Mannheim would henceforth be marketed under the name of Brockhaus.
