Business Arrangements, Changes, etc.

Ratibor, May 1869.

Dear Sirs,

We hereby respectfully inform you that on April 16th of this year, we sold our branch business in Kosel—free of all liabilities—to our former authorized signatory, Mr. S. Silbermann, who is based there.

The Easter fair payment for Kosel has been settled in accordance with the payment schedule, without any outstanding balance carried forward.

We ask that you extend the confidence you have hitherto placed in us to our successor, Mr. S. Silbermann; he has managed the aforementioned branch in Kosel as its director since November 1, 1868, to our complete satisfaction.

Respectfully,

V. Wichura & Comp.

Dear Sirs,

From the preceding announcement by Messrs. V. Wichura & Comp. of Ratibor, you will see that on April 16th of this year, I purchased and took over—including all assets—their general bookstore located here. To avoid any confusion with the Ratibor branch, I shall continue to operate the business under the trade name:

S. Silbermann

(formerly V. Wichura & Comp.)

During seven years of employment with the respected firms of Joseph Graveur in Neisse and Bial & Freund in Breslau, I have consistently endeavored to acquire the knowledge and experience necessary to run a business of my own.

Through prudence and the utmost diligence, I hope to make our mutual business relationship a profitable one.

I have sufficient financial resources at my disposal to ensure the business continues to thrive.

I therefore hope I am not making an unreasonable request in asking you to keep the account open for me as well... ...to open an account with you; to place my firm on your Leipzig distribution list.

I shall select my stock myself, but I request the timely dispatch of circulars, prospectuses, and your publisher's catalogue.

Messrs. Robert Hoffmann in Leipzig and Joh. N. Kern in Breslau have kindly agreed to handle my commission orders; they are always provided with the necessary funds to pay cash for firm orders should credit be refused.

With the highest esteem, I remain, yours faithfully,

Kosel, May 1869. S. Silbermann.

References.

The bearer of this letter, Mr. S. Silbermann from Neuberun, worked as an apprentice in my business from February 1, 1862, until the end of 1867, and served as an assistant from that time until August 3rd of this year.

His employment had to be terminated because he was called up for military service. During his time with my firm, he earned my complete satisfaction and grateful appreciation through his sustained diligence, keen interest in the business, strictly upright conduct, and, above all, his honest character.

He leaves with my best wishes for his future well-being.

Neiße, August 3, 1866.
Joseph Graveur, Bookseller.

Mr. S. Silbermann from Neuberun has worked as an assistant in our bookshop from March 20, 1867, to the present day.

His performance was consistently satisfactory, and his zeal for the area of ​​work entrusted to him was highly commendable; indeed, in the summer of 1868, we were able to entrust him with the management of a branch in the spa town of Königsdorf-Jastrzemb (Upper Silesia). Mr. Silbermann is leaving our firm to assume a position offering greater independence; we wish him the utmost success in his new sphere of activity—success he will undoubtedly achieve through his diligence.

Breslau, November 1, 1868.
Bial & Freund.

Note self: capture what he advertised for books and employees in this paper.

These were both in the February 1, 1872, issue of the Ober-Glogauer Stadt-Blatt:

1.  Antheil-Loose zur Königl. Preuß. 145ten Klassen-Lotterie sind zu haben bei S. Silbermann in Cosel.

Share lottery tickets for the Royal Prussian 145th Class Lottery are available from S. Silbermann in Cosel.

2. Zum baldigen Antritte suche ich einen Lehrling für mein Geschäft. S. Silbermann in Cosel..

For immediate commencement, I am seeking an apprentice for my business. S. Silbermann in Cosel.

The first three were all in the June 17, 1875, issue of Koseler Kreis-Blatt:

1.  Von jetzt ab verkaufen den Bogen Formulare mit 7 Rpf., selten gebräuchliche mit 10 Rpf. S. Silbermann’s Buchhandlung. F. Radek’s Buchdruckerei.

From now on, sheets of forms are sold at 7 pfennigs, rarely used ones at 10 pfennigs. S. Silbermann’s Bookshop. F. Radek’s Printing house. 

2. Eine neue Göpeldreschmaschine steht zum Verkauf bei S. Silbermann in Kosel.

A new horse-powered threshing machine is offered for sale by S. Silbermann in Kosel.

3. Nur kurze Zeit zu sehen! Große Ausstellung von Delbildern, neueste Sachen, direkt aus Wien bezogen, bei S. Silbermann in Kosel.

Only for a short time to be seen! Large exhibition of relief pictures, the newest items, obtained directly from Vienna, at S. Silbermann in Kosel.

4. From Börsenblatt für den deutschen Buchhandel: 31.08.1875, p. 12:

An exhibition of educational materials and teaching aids is scheduled to take place here in early October. I therefore request publishers of educational works and teaching aids to send me one copy of each on a sale-or-return basis. I shall promptly return any unsold items. Respectfully, S. Silbermann, Cosel.

As noted, the book business had other revenue streams. 

1. From Coseler Kreis-Blatt, March 6, 1879: 

Beachtenswerth! Um jedem Irrthum vorzubeugen erlaubt sich die unterzeichnete Handlung anzuzeigen, daß sämmtliche Druckformulare für Gemeinden sowie für Schulen, namentlich Schul-Absentenlisten, Prüfungs- Protokolle, Klassenbücher und Fleißkataloge jederzeit nach Vorschrift der Königl. Behörden vorräthig sind und bittet bei Bedarf um gütigen Zuspruch. Obige Angaben werden event. das Landraths-Amt und der Herr Kreis-Schulen-Inspector bestätigen. Cosel, im März 1879. S. Silbermann’s Buchhandlung.

Worth noting! In order to prevent any misunderstanding, the undersigned firm takes the liberty of announcing that all printed forms for municipalities as well as for schools—namely school absentee lists, examination records, class registers, and diligence (merit) catalogs—are at all times available in accordance with the regulations of the Royal authorities, and respectfully requests patronage when needed. The above statements may, if necessary, be confirmed by the District Administrator’s Office and by the District School Inspector. Cosel, March 1879. S. Silbermann’s Bookshop.

2. From Coseler Kreis-Blatt, April 3, 1879: 

Formulare zu Klassensteuer-Reklamationen empfiehlt S. Silbermann in Cosel.

Forms for class-tax appeals are offered by S. Silbermann in Cosel.

Unless there are now two "S. Silbermann" selling in Cosel, Siegmund has branched out even before he sold the book business. This confusion of furniture with other stuff continues later below. [Note I don't see any Cosel papers after July 1879 until January 1884.]  

1. From Coseler Kreis-Blatt, January 30, 1879: 

Beste Oberschlesische Stückkohlen per Tonne . . . 2 Mark Würfelkohlen „ „ . . . 1,90 bei Abnahme von Mindestens 15 Tonnen tritt freie Zufendung und Preisermäßigung ein. S. Silbermann, Cosel.

Best Upper Silesian Lump coal per ton . . . 2 marks Cubed coal “ ” . . . 1.90 marks With purchase of at least 15 tons, free delivery and a price reduction apply. S. Silbermann, Cosel.

2. From Coseler Kreis-Blatt, January 24, 1884: 

Das Möbel-, Spiegel- und Polsterwaaren-Lager von S. Silbermann in Cosel empfiehlt complete Zimmereinrichtungen in allen Holzarten, Sophas, Fauteuils, Matratzen und Wiener Möbel zu billigen Preisen. ☞ Ratenzahlungen werden bewilligt. S. Silbermann in Cosel.

The furniture, mirror, and upholstery warehouse of S. Silbermann in Cosel offers complete room furnishings in all types of wood, sofas, armchairs, mattresses, and Viennese furniture at affordable prices. ☞ Installment payments are permitted. S. Silbermann in Cosel.

These were both, side-by-side, in the April 18, 1885, issue of Groß-Strehlitzer Kreis-Blatt:

1.  ür Landwirthe offerire billiger wie jede Concurrenz: Buttermehl den Ctr. für — — — 4 Mark 50 pfg Viehsalz den Sack von 2 Ctr. für 3 Mark Siede- und Speisesalz den Sack von 1½ Ctr. für 10 Mark 50 pfg Bei Entnahme größeren Quantums entsprechend billiger. S. Silbermann Productengeschäft in Cosel.

For farmers I offer cheaper than any competition: Butter meal per centner for 4 marks 50 pfennigs Cattle salt the sack of 2 centners for 3 marks Boiled and table salt the sack of 1½ centners for 10 marks 50 pfennigs For purchase of larger quantities, correspondingly cheaper. S. Silbermann Produce business in Cosel.

2. S. Silbermann in Cosel Kirchstraße erstes Haus vom Ringe, empfiehlt sein großes Lager sämtlicher Sorten Möbel-, Spiegel- u. Polsterwaaren in Nußbaum-, Mahagoni-, Kirsch- und Birkenholz Lager von Plüschgarnituren, Chaiselonges, Schaukelstühle in 4 verschiedenen Sorten. Pfeilerspiegel und Trymeaux.

S. Silbermann in Cosel Kirchstraße, first house from the Ring, recommends his large stock of all kinds of furniture, mirrors, and upholstered goods in walnut, mahogany, cherry, and birch wood. Stock of plush furniture sets, chaise longues, rocking chairs in 4 different varieties. Pier mirrors and trumeaux.

There are missing years of the Cosel paper (1889-1892), so hard to know when his business folded. There are seed ads from 1888, but not sure when last furniture ad was.

From Deutscher Reichsanzeiger Jan. 30, 1894

removed from firm register in Cosel

number 66 the firm S. Silbermann 28 December 1894