A Brill Calendar: August 6

Few publishing companies in the late nineteenth century had the same international esteem as E. J. Brill of Leyden.

The firm grew explosively, both in size and in range of activity; a diversity and variety later never equalled, let alone surpassed. At the Vienna World Exhibition of 1873 a gold medal was Brill’s prestigious award for the ‘Oriental Editions’, while five years later, at the Paris World Exhibition, the feat was repeated. One of the two directors, Adriaan Pieter Marie van Oordt (1840 – 1903) received from the crowned heads of Italy and Sweden honorific titles and knighthoods – not to mention the one of the Ottoman Empire – while his dear friend and partner Frans de Stoppelaar (1841 – 1906) was appointed by his sovereign, King Willem III a Knight in the Order of the Lion of The Netherlands.

Stupendous growth in a so-called ‘knowledge industry’ is not restricted to the final quarter of the 20th century. Roughly one century earlier, around 1880, it became clear that the assorted Brill buildings along the Rapenburg canal had reached the end of their life-cycle. A former orphanage on the Oude Rijn became, after thorough remodelling and revision, Brill’s new headquarters, with more than enough space to house all activities, departments and offices. Soon after the move into this new habitat, the Burgomaster and Aldermen of Leyden granted E. J. Brill the permission – on approval and for the time being, three months – to operate a ‘gas-power utensil’.

It is seldom that the European spirit of the time, convinced of its responsibility and capability to lead the Planet to peace, prosperity and harmony was so perfectly expressed by one privately owned industrial company.