Reclam-Museum

About the museum

The Reclam-Museum goes back to the Germanist and collector Hans-Jochen Marquardt from Halle, who over decades assembled an extensive collection on Reclam's Universal-Bibliothek. After the closure of the Leipzig publishing house in 2006, the idea of a museum of its own arose; in 2011 the non-profit association Literarisches Museum e. V. was founded for this purpose in the former residence of the publishing family on Marbachstraße. Its name recalls the first designation of the publishing house founded by Anton Philipp Reclam in 1828.

After the association lost its first rooms as early as 2012, it showed exhibitions at changing locations for several years. Since June 2018 the school company Rahn Education has provided it with rent-free rooms in the basement at the corner of Kreuzstraße and Inselstraße, directly opposite the former publishing building in the Graphisches Viertel. The official opening took place on October 24, 2018.

The permanent exhibition leads chronologically through the prehistory and origins of the series, launched in 1867 with Goethe's "Faust" and regarded as the oldest German-language paperback series still being published. It shows changing cover designs and formats, the period of the two separate Reclam publishers in Leipzig and Stuttgart after 1945, and developments up to the present. Exhibits include field libraries from both world wars, camouflage publications and a reconstruction of a Reclam book vending machine of 1912, on loan from the publisher. The show is complemented by a reference library that includes a large part of the volumes published since 1867.

Highlights

• Chronological overview of Reclam's Universal-Bibliothek since 1867
• Reconstruction of a Reclam book vending machine of 1912
• Field libraries from both world wars and camouflage publications
• Editions by the Leipzig and Stuttgart Reclam publishers from the period of German division
• Reference library with volumes of the Universal-Bibliothek

Permanent exhibitions

• Reclams Universal-Bibliothek – Chronological tour through the history of the paperback series from its founding in 1867 to today, including the period of the two Reclam publishers in East and West.

Founded

2018

Operated by

Literarisches Museum e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission, donations are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is in the basement and reached via a staircase; not accessible. Restrooms on the same level.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B 2 and Kreuzstraße or via Dresdner Straße and Inselstraße to the driveway at Kreuzstraße 12. Entrance through the driveway and down the stairs on the left. On foot from the main station, about 25 minutes.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit