BUGRA

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INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION FOR THE BOOK INDUSTRY AND GRAPHIC ARTS
May 6 - October 18, 1914

The term BUGRA was created from the initial letters of the words "Buchgewerbe" (book trade) and "Graphik" (graphic arts).

1914 was the 150th anniversary of the Königliche Akademie für Graphische Künste und Buchgewerbe (Royal Academy for the Graphic Arts and Book Industry) in Leipzig, and to celebrate that occasion, as well as to advertise Leipzig's stature as the pre-eminent book publishing city of Germany, the city staged the International Exhibition of Books, Book-making, and Related Arts - the Bugra!

Planning for the exhibition was begun in 1910 and the event that resulted in 1914, was considered by all who attended it a marvel of organization, sophistication and excellence. The grounds occupied a plot of 100 acres, and were part of the site of the Battle of Leipzig (Oct. 16-19, 1813).

The exposition was cut short by the outbreak of World War I in early August. All the foreign exhibitors packed their exhibitions for later shipment (most were returned after the War)

A birds-eye view of the exhibition.



The grounds included over 40 structures, six of them built by foreign countries (England, France, Italy, Austria, Japan and Russia). Seven other nations erected exhibits in a joint pavilion - they were Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Norway. Six other nations, including Portugal, Hungary, China, Korea and India - a total of twenty-two in all - had exhibits in other buildings of the expo. The United States chose not to participate, except for an exhibit by the ALA in the library section. This was a source of distress to the organizers, and to the German government, since Germany had participated in several US expos, and the US had never exhibited at any German ones.

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There were many postcards produced for the exhibition, many of them showing views of the grounds, cafeteria and pavilions etc but also some of interest to the printer

The old Haynsburg Paper Mill



Haynsburg Paper Mill: making paper by hand



Haynsburg Paper Mill: typefoundry



Haynsburg Paper Mill: letterpress printing




Sculpture in front of Printing Exhibition



Gutenberg Memorial



Gutenberg looks at the first printed sheets

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Advertising stamp of the type foundry



The Book Bindery

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Obverse
Stretched out arm to the left holding a sword, behind a female figure holding a cornucopia with three roses falling out of it.

Lettering: MK

Reverse
6-line inscription in a frame forming a garland.

Lettering:
WELT-AUSSTELLUNG
für
BUCHGEWERBE
und
GRAPHIK
LEIPZIG 1914

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Some more postcards

Paper Industry Pavilion



Monument of the Association of German Printers



Sculpture - Etching