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Alex W. Hinrichsen

28 Dec 2012

It is with great sadness I must tell you of the sudden death on 9 December of Alex W. Hinrichsen in his home town of Holzminden, Germany.

Alex was born on 22 January, 1936. For Baedeker collectors, he will principally be remembered for his pioneering work on the bibliography of Baedeker travel guides, which started in the 1970's and culminated in the still unrivalled second edition of "Baedeker's Reisehandbücher", 1991. He invented the numbering system by which we all refer to and can identify the more than 1,000 editions, and which bears his name. His energy and interest also resulted in the "Reisen und Leben" series of newsletters for students of Baedekeriana, published between 1980 and 1992, with many interesting items of Baedeker research by himself and other eminent scholars and collectors.

However, his interests and activities went far wider than the Baedeker publishing history. He was the proprietor of a flourishing bookshop in Holzminden and his research covered many aspects of German art and literature. His most recent work focused on the Bavarian artist and illustrator Paul Neu.

He was extremely supportive of BDKR.com and generous with his time and expertise to a mere amateur like your editor. His kindness in allowing me first to publish the "Reisen und Leben" series on this site, and later to translate and publish the history section of his Baedeker bibliography was matched only by his good humour and skill in reviewing and improving the translation.

He leaves his wife Michaela and young daughter Pauline. To them, and to other members of his family and friends go our deepest sympathies.

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