Merian (magazine)

The Merian magazine is a monthly publication since July 1948 travel journal, which was moved up to the year 2000 by Hoffmann und Campe, since the seasons publisher through Ganske Publishing Group. Designed both lyrically and illustrative, the magazine by former first editor Henry Leippe was. The booklets each dealing with a geographical region: one country, one part of the country, group of countries or a city. The name of the magazine is reminiscent of the engraver Matthew Merian, who published illustrated in the 17th century city descriptions.

In articles, reports and essays, mostly illustrated, the geography, the economy, politics, history and literature, but also museums, arts and culture and the gastronomy of the region shown.

Editor in chief since 2002 Andreas Hallaschka, the eldest brother of TV presenter Steffen Hallaschka.

Cohorts and counting

In the initial phase, the Merian- books were jahrgangsweise by numbered using Roman numerals. Since the first issue was published in July, the first issues I to V starting in July and extend through June of the following year. Volume V is a (half ) Hull year passage of only 6 booklets, which ends with the issue December 1952. From 1953, the monthly count is in sync with the calendar, 1/VI corresponds Januar 1953. Starting from 1975 the year on the back is no longer Roman but given Arabic (eg 03 /51 Rome), later the year as plain text featured on the cover or in the imprint. In newly imposed reprinting the year of publication is not always visible, so that the year of counting to determine the release date is still relevant.

Additional expenses

Initially Merian booklets were called by the publisher to stimulate the sale with cover strips, also called " abdominal binder " feature. Become known to date are books with cover strip only from the period 1948 to 1953 ( 1st-6th year). The strips are six inches high, were labeled varying depending on the title and have rarely received.

In addition to the series some special editions were launched from special occasions that are different in some cases some of the thematic spectrum of the series:

Special requirements for some years issued in the series " Merian extra". These special editions are paid PR products on behalf of tourism businesses, associations and the automobile industry.

Topics, authors, photographers

Many special issues will be revised depending on the need for revision in intervals of several years in pictures and text, and then reissued ( eg Berlin 12/ 1949 11/1959, 1/1970, 7 /1989 6/1998, 9/2001, 3 / 2005, 11 /2007 and 6/1997 Berlin hinterland ). This not only gives an interesting perspective on the historical development, but also to the change in agenda-setting, the photographic reception and representation as well as the literary reflection.

For the essays often significant ( travel ) writers have been obtained, such as Hermann Kesten ( 8/1962 Franconian Jura), Torberg ( 2/1974 Prague ), Herbert Rosendorfer ( 12/1982 Munich) or FAZ travel journalist Jacob Strobel y Serra ( 5/2007 Mallorca). During imaging is often resorted to established travel and calendar photographers, such as Christian Heeb and Eberhard Infogrames ( 9/1997 Paris); occasionally the outstanding full-page photo spreads were supplied by a single photographer, for example, Round (12/ 1982) by Guido Mangold.

Guide " Romantic Getaways "

The Guide Romantic Getaways! since 1993 appear in bookstores. Editorial responsibility is the Ganske company Travel House Media. Overall, the series was five times awarded the ITB Book Award. Since 2007, this guide contains a removable extra card that complements the multi-page Atlas maps in the book. Since 2010, the revised guide appear with the extra chapter of "green travel".

Activities guide " Merian active"

In March 2009, the first volumes of the series Merian appeared active. This series was developed to allow with leisure tips for the "Holidays on the doorstep ". Here, the editorial has also adopted smaller regions that have previously been rather neglected of Guides perspective: for example, the Werra Valley, Upper Swabia, the Minster country or the Saarland. For the concept of the editorial team has placed particular emphasis on authenticity and originality: All authors must be based in the respective regions and live the " active thought ".