Brepols
Encyclopedia
Brepols was once one of the largest printing companies of the world and one of the main employers in Turnhout (Belgium
). Besides its printing business, Brepols is also active as a publisher. In former days the company well known for its missal
s, but now it is more renowned for its agendas.
, a printer from Leuven
moved together with his assistant Philippus Jacobus Brepols
, to Turnhout, possibly to flee the French military which occupied Belgium
at that time. Corbeels rapidly became the town printer, and he printed passports and pamphlets for the city of Turnhout. In the summer of 1798 Corbeels went to fight against the French as one of the leaders of the ‘’Boerenkrijg’’. He was caught and executed.
Because of Corbeels fight against the French his apprentice, Philippus Jacobus Brepols, had to take over the responsibility for the printing company. The widow of Corbeels managed the business for short while, but from 1800 onwards P.J. Brepols gradually took over the house and the business.
Soon the printing business was expanded with bookbinding, a shop and paper
-trade were added to the business. Initially P.J. Brepols traded the most diverse goods, from leather-ware to hats. The first years especially religious work and schoolbooks were printed. In 1817, Brepols acquired the company Le Tellier in Lier
of which he had bought for a long time comics for children. Between 1817 and 1930, Brepols published about 623 comics for children.
Playing card
s, at the time, were printed in Antwerp, Brussels
, and mainly in Dinant
, but from 1826 Brepols started printing playing cards and soon became the most important producer of cards. Brepols also started to produce special types of paper. The then still rather new method of lithography
was introduced at Brepols in 1829. When Belgium became independent in 1830, the business to the Netherlands was lost. On 5 July 1834 the company started the first magazine of the Kempen (E: Campine
), the ‘’Algemeen Aenkondigingsblad’’, which would be printed by Brepols up to 1875.
On 3 January 1845 P.J. Brepols died and the company was continued by his only daughter Antoinette Brepols, who in 1820 had married Jan Jozef Dierckx, a merchant. On 4 May 1835 P.J. Brepols had announced that his son in law would enter the family business, which would become Brepols & Dierckx Son. When P.J. Brepols died in 1845, his daughter was already a widow. She was assisted by Stefan Splichal, who mainly managed the publication of the ’Algemeen Aenkondigingsblad’’. In 1853 the first steam engine
was introduced in the company.
In 1860, the son of Antoinette, Jan Willem Dierckx, married Josephina Frederika Dessauer, the daughter of an industrialist from Aschaffenburg
(Germany
). When Jan Willem died in 1866, his widow Josephina became the head of the Brepols Company. In 1868 she remarried with Arthur Dufour, an engineer, who did not involve himself very much in the business of his wife. At the beginning of the twentieth century, their son, baron François du Four
took over the family business from his mother. In the meantime the company had grown to become the biggest of its kind in Belgium and had about 1000 employees.
In 1911, the company was incorporated into the N.V etablissementen Brepols and François du Four became President of the Management Council of Brepols. In 1913, and 1930, the buildings of the company were enlarged, while previously already new buildings had been built in 1887 and 1890, in the Papenstraat in Turnhout. At the beginning of 1921 a new department was established for the printing of wallpaper. In 1929, the production of wallpaper by Brepols had amounted to this six millions roles.
To overcome the trade restrictions imposed by the customs authorities of the United Kingdom
and France
in 1932, in Halluin
(France) the Société Française des Papiers Brepols was created, in order to not to lose this important market. In 1945, baron François du Four died and his son Jean du Four succeeded him as President of the Management Council of the company. The special paper production were grouped, in 1960, in a new company, the N.V Copa, in which three companies of Turnhout merged their business. In 1967, this business activity was taken over by the newly established company N.V Turpa, together with the departments for colored paper of Biermans, Van Genechten
and Copa. In 1970, Brepols, Biermans and Van Genechten, brought together their playing card business and created the company Carta Mundi as a joint venture
, a world leader in the production of playing cards.
More and more the company printed and bound books for other companies, due to the large decline of the need for church books caused by the Second Vatican Council
. When the location of an industrial building in the centre of the city of Turnout could no longer be justified, an area of 7 hectares was bought in an industrial area outside the city and the first construction phase of the new building started in June 1969. In 1971, baron Louis de Cartier de Marchienne
took over as the President of the Management Council. Under his leadership, the second phase of the work was completed in 1973, so that in 1974 the company moved to its new location. The site was further extended in 1989 for the expansion of the company.
But the tide turned and the company, which employed at its heyday some 2200 people, was split up in 4 separate smaller companies. In 2003, two companies of the group filed for bankruptcy. The publisher and a part of the book binding activity continue to exist. At present it employs still about 200 people.
In academic circles Brepols is particularly well known as the publisher of Greek patristic and medieval Latin works (in the Continuatio Mediaevalis) in the Corpus Christianorum
series, which is in some respects seen as the successor to Migne's patrologiae.
Brepols has also replaced Herder
as the publisher of the bilingual German patristic
and medieval
collection Fontes Christiani
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
). Besides its printing business, Brepols is also active as a publisher. In former days the company well known for its missal
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
s, but now it is more renowned for its agendas.
History
In 1795, Pieter CorbeelsPieter Corbeels
Pieter Corbeels was a Belgian book printer and resistance leader. He commanded part of the Brabantine forces during a revolt against the French Revolutionary regime known as the Boerenkrijg ....
, a printer from Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
moved together with his assistant Philippus Jacobus Brepols
Philippus Jacobus Brepols
Philippus Jacobus Brepols was a Belgian businessman and founder of the Brepols printing family-business in Turnhout, Belgium.In 1795, Pieter Corbeels, a printer from Leuven moved together with his assistant Philippus Jacobus Brepols, to Turnhout, possibly to flee the French military which occupied...
, to Turnhout, possibly to flee the French military which occupied Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
at that time. Corbeels rapidly became the town printer, and he printed passports and pamphlets for the city of Turnhout. In the summer of 1798 Corbeels went to fight against the French as one of the leaders of the ‘’Boerenkrijg’’. He was caught and executed.
Because of Corbeels fight against the French his apprentice, Philippus Jacobus Brepols, had to take over the responsibility for the printing company. The widow of Corbeels managed the business for short while, but from 1800 onwards P.J. Brepols gradually took over the house and the business.
Soon the printing business was expanded with bookbinding, a shop and paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
-trade were added to the business. Initially P.J. Brepols traded the most diverse goods, from leather-ware to hats. The first years especially religious work and schoolbooks were printed. In 1817, Brepols acquired the company Le Tellier in Lier
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
of which he had bought for a long time comics for children. Between 1817 and 1930, Brepols published about 623 comics for children.
Playing card
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
s, at the time, were printed in Antwerp, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, and mainly in Dinant
Dinant
Dinant is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne, Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes.-Origins to...
, but from 1826 Brepols started printing playing cards and soon became the most important producer of cards. Brepols also started to produce special types of paper. The then still rather new method of lithography
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
was introduced at Brepols in 1829. When Belgium became independent in 1830, the business to the Netherlands was lost. On 5 July 1834 the company started the first magazine of the Kempen (E: Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
), the ‘’Algemeen Aenkondigingsblad’’, which would be printed by Brepols up to 1875.
On 3 January 1845 P.J. Brepols died and the company was continued by his only daughter Antoinette Brepols, who in 1820 had married Jan Jozef Dierckx, a merchant. On 4 May 1835 P.J. Brepols had announced that his son in law would enter the family business, which would become Brepols & Dierckx Son. When P.J. Brepols died in 1845, his daughter was already a widow. She was assisted by Stefan Splichal, who mainly managed the publication of the ’Algemeen Aenkondigingsblad’’. In 1853 the first steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
was introduced in the company.
In 1860, the son of Antoinette, Jan Willem Dierckx, married Josephina Frederika Dessauer, the daughter of an industrialist from Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
). When Jan Willem died in 1866, his widow Josephina became the head of the Brepols Company. In 1868 she remarried with Arthur Dufour, an engineer, who did not involve himself very much in the business of his wife. At the beginning of the twentieth century, their son, baron François du Four
François du Four
Baron François du Four was a Belgian industrialist. He married Germaine Henry in 1902, and together they had seven daughters and a son....
took over the family business from his mother. In the meantime the company had grown to become the biggest of its kind in Belgium and had about 1000 employees.
In 1911, the company was incorporated into the N.V etablissementen Brepols and François du Four became President of the Management Council of Brepols. In 1913, and 1930, the buildings of the company were enlarged, while previously already new buildings had been built in 1887 and 1890, in the Papenstraat in Turnhout. At the beginning of 1921 a new department was established for the printing of wallpaper. In 1929, the production of wallpaper by Brepols had amounted to this six millions roles.
To overcome the trade restrictions imposed by the customs authorities of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1932, in Halluin
Halluin
Halluin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Geography:It is located at the north of the Lille Urban Community, on the Belgian border, contiguous with the Belgian town of Menen.-Heraldry:-Twin towns:...
(France) the Société Française des Papiers Brepols was created, in order to not to lose this important market. In 1945, baron François du Four died and his son Jean du Four succeeded him as President of the Management Council of the company. The special paper production were grouped, in 1960, in a new company, the N.V Copa, in which three companies of Turnhout merged their business. In 1967, this business activity was taken over by the newly established company N.V Turpa, together with the departments for colored paper of Biermans, Van Genechten
Van Genechten Packaging
Van Genechten Packaging is a Belgian printing company, located in Turnhout. It is one of the companies of the printing valley located around Turnhout, Belgium.-History:...
and Copa. In 1970, Brepols, Biermans and Van Genechten, brought together their playing card business and created the company Carta Mundi as a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
, a world leader in the production of playing cards.
More and more the company printed and bound books for other companies, due to the large decline of the need for church books caused by the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. When the location of an industrial building in the centre of the city of Turnout could no longer be justified, an area of 7 hectares was bought in an industrial area outside the city and the first construction phase of the new building started in June 1969. In 1971, baron Louis de Cartier de Marchienne
Louis de Cartier de Marchienne
Baron Louis de Cartier de Marchienne is a Belgian businessman. He was managing director of the company Eternit in the sixties, and in 1971 he became Chairman of the Board of the printing company Brepols and lead the company through a period of change. His son Jean-Louis de Cartier de Marchienne is...
took over as the President of the Management Council. Under his leadership, the second phase of the work was completed in 1973, so that in 1974 the company moved to its new location. The site was further extended in 1989 for the expansion of the company.
But the tide turned and the company, which employed at its heyday some 2200 people, was split up in 4 separate smaller companies. In 2003, two companies of the group filed for bankruptcy. The publisher and a part of the book binding activity continue to exist. At present it employs still about 200 people.
In academic circles Brepols is particularly well known as the publisher of Greek patristic and medieval Latin works (in the Continuatio Mediaevalis) in the Corpus Christianorum
Corpus Christianorum
The Corpus Christianorum is a major publishing undertaking of the Belgian publisher Brepols devoted to patristic and medieval Latin texts. The principal series are the Series Graeca , Series Latina , and the Continuatio Mediaevalis...
series, which is in some respects seen as the successor to Migne's patrologiae.
Brepols has also replaced Herder
Herder publishers
Verlag Herder is a publishing company started by the Herders, a German family. The company focuses primarily on Catholic topics of ecclesiology, Christian mysticism, women's studies, and the development of younger Catholic theologians.-Bartholomäus Herder:...
as the publisher of the bilingual German patristic
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
and medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
collection Fontes Christiani
Fontes Christiani
Fontes Christiani is a widely-cited German bilingual collection of patristic and medieval Latin works with modern German translations. Published initially by Herder, a long-established German theological publisher beginning in 1988, it is now published by the Belgian company Brepols, a major...
.
Source
- Brepols (history)
- Brepols (history)
- Roland Baetens (Ed.), Harry de Kok, Pierre Delsaerdt, Gerrit de Vijlder and Ludo Simons, Brepols drukkers en uitgevers 1796-1996, Brepols, 1996.