Internationalen Elektrizitätsgesellschaft Testimonial to Gotthold Stern, 1900
Item Details
Description: A monumental presentation album housed in its original (distressed) clamshell case. The album is bound in full tan leather by the renowned Viennese firm August Klein, featuring heavy gilt metal corner mounts and a central enamel medallion bearing the monogram ‘GS’. It was presented to Dr. Gotthold Stern, Director of the Internationale Electricitäts-Gesellschaft (IEG), to mark his 10th anniversary of leadership (1890–1900). The interior features a hand-illuminated address in Gothic script with gold highlights, followed by several pages of original signatures from the company’s staff.
Historical Significance (Vienna 1900 & The ‘War of Currents’): The Internationale Electricitäts-Gesellschaft (IEG) was a pivotal player in the early electrification of Central Europe. It was closely linked to the Hungarian firm Ganz & Co., which pioneered the Alternating Current (AC) transformer systems that competed directly with Edison’s Direct Current (DC) systems.
The Signatories (The ‘Beamtenkörper’): A review of the signatures identifies them as the senior engineering and administrative staff of the IEG. Notable legible signatures include Wilhelm Syllaba, Carl Hof, Albert Siems, Heinrich Glösel, and Carl Bruckner. While these names do not immediately correlate with ‘household name’ scientific celebrities (like Tesla or Einstein), they represent the technical elite of Vienna’s turn-of-the-century industrial boom.
| Type | Certificates |
| Brand | Internationalen Elektrizitätsgesellschaft |
| Publisher | August Klein |
| Publication Year | 1900 |
| Period | Late 19th Century, Antique |
| Place of Publication | Vienna |
| Origin | Austria |
| Binding | Clamshell box |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Additional Information | A testimonial of appreciation from the staff of Internationalen Elektrizitätsgesellschaft to President Gotthold Stern. |
Condition
- bowing, gilt loss, discoloration, and wear to boards and backstrip; tears, bowing, fraying, discoloration, and wear to case.
Dimensions
- measures case.
- Please note: If the winning bidder selects the warehouse transfer option, the item will be available for pickup at the selected warehouse three business days after payment has been finalized.
- All pages not individually verified.
Item #
ITMGS43284
