Monumental Viennese Presentation Album | Internationalen Elektrizitätsgesellschaft, 1900
This extraordinary turn-of-the-century presentation album is a striking example of late 19th-century Viennese craftsmanship and corporate ceremonial art. Produced in Vienna in 1900 by the renowned firm August Klein, the album was created as a formal testimonial of appreciation from the staff of the Internationalen Elektrizitätsgesellschaft to its president, Gotthold Stern.
The album is housed in its original clamshell case and bound in full tan leather, richly adorned with heavy gilt metal corner mounts and an ornate central enamel medallion. Inside, the calligraphy and illuminated presentation pages are beautifully executed, reflecting the grandeur and pride of Europe’s early electrical industry at the dawn of the modern age.
This is a large, imposing piece, intended to impress from the moment it is displayed.
Dimensions (approximate):
• 18” H x 14” W x 3” D
Condition:
Overall, the album is in very nice antique condition, especially considering its age and scale. The interior pages present well. The exterior leather cover shows noticeable surface dirt and areas of age-appropriate wear, consistent with over a century of history, but remains structurally sound and visually impressive. The wear does not detract from the album’s presence and authenticity.
