Josef Richard Vilímek (1860 - 1938)

Josef Richard Vilímek (September 14 1860 in Prague - November 6 1938 in Prague) was a Czech publisher, owner of famous publishing house "J. R. Vilímek".

Vilímek's father, Josef Richard Vilímek (1835 - 1911) was a publisher. Vilímek junior had learned the business in father's firm and abroad. In 1885, at age of 25, he took over the publishing house "Josef Richard Vilímek" and expanded its production to became one of the most famous Czech publishers of the time (together with Jan Otto and František Topič). Among most popular titles were novels by Jules Verne (52 books in several editions), Karl May and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 1891 he became the first publisher in Czech lands using rotary printing press. The company had survived fire in 1899 which destroyed its building. At the end of 1920s the building and technology were modernized.

From second half of 1920s painter Zdeněk Burian worked on illustrations for many Vilímek's books. Bedřich Fučík had managed the company during World War II.

After communist takeover in 1948 the company was nationalised and year later closed down. The building and technology was handed over to a large state publisher "Knižní velkoobchod". After communist part fell from power (1989) the now forgotten name "J. R. Vilímek " was picked up and misused during a privatisation scandal (known for participation of a Czech politician Miroslav Macek).

References

* Aleš Zach, "Stopami pražských nakladatelských domů", Prague, Thyrsus 1996, ISBN 80-901774-4-1

External links

All texts are in Czech language.
* [http://www.profit.cz/archiv.php?iEd=200614&iArt=17223&iSearch= Biography of father and son]
* [http://www.vamberk-city.cz/zpravodaj/2005-04.pdf More detailed biography] (PDF, pages 6-7)
* [http://www.vosp.cz/web/historie_skoly.php History of the publishing house] (scroll to "Nakladatelství Josef Richard Vilímek" section)