Extensive and complete product catalog of the German pharmaceutical and medical supply firm Mich.G.Birk GmbH & Co. [predecessor to today's BIRK Rundkartonagen GmbH & Co. KG], a highly reputable global firm established in Germany by wainwright [wagon maker] Michael Birk in 1879, designed for the private use of a single client. 8vo. 580 pages of text [double-leaf pagination tallies 290], xxxi (index), plus 20 pages colour chromolithographed frontispiece illustrations of sample labels ads - some of which are fold-outs, plus 9 pages of actual label samples mounted to the leafs. Text is complete in four languages - German, English, French, and Spanish, with the foremost leaf of proprietorship adding also Portuguese. Publisher's original illustrated binding, brown cloth titled in gilt and black lettering to front and spine, "Mich.Birk. Tuttlingen Deutschland. Katalog No.4." Occasional finger markings in the margins of five leaves only, specifically from the person who manually mounted the adhesive labels, otherwise in Near Fine condition, seldom seen complete, and in such pristine never-used condition, an exceedingly scarce volume in this state. Volumes such as this would have been issued to a specific client, for their own reference only. The following simple agreement is printed in five languages to the first leaf: "This list is to remain the property of the firm of Mich. Birk of Tuttlingen and only Mr._______ has been entrusted with the sole use of it. Reprints prohibited, will be prosecuted by law." The present volume was not assigned to anyone and remains as new, in original condition. Interestingly, the "Terms of Business" which prefaces the first section of product, is written in such a way that reveals the very personalized service offered by the owner of the firm, in spite of being an international success by this time. A pleasing repository of 1920s marketing of products from around the globe offered by the respected long-standing and leading packaging firm of Michael Birk - from a brief period when they also offered medical and surgical instruments, equipment and even laboratory furniture. It was in 1920 that Michael Birk expanded his export trade overseas and established offices in Mexico and South America, at the same time offering global distribution of products and instruments for the medical technology industry, from renowned manufacturers located in Tuttlingen, Germany. He also introduced significantly advanced offerings to his clients, such as grease-proof cardboard ointment containers, embossed colour labels according to individual customer requirements. [After the Second World War, global economics caused the firm to return its focus entirely to the development and production of packaging.] The present volume is a fine survivor of this pinnacle period in the firm's history, and an exceedingly scarce find in its pristine condition.
