Singer and Wolfner
A historic Hungarian publishing house and bookstore known for popular fiction, children's literature, youth periodicals, and illustrated books.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Singer and Wolfner was a major Hungarian publishing house and bookselling business established in Budapest in 1885 by Sándor Singer and József Wolfner. It emerged during a period when Hungary's expanding economy and publishing market encouraged the formation of limited-liability companies capable of raising more capital than traditional small book businesses. Wolfner served as the firm's chief executive and helped build it into one of the country's most successful publishers. The company competed by combining large print runs, accessible prices, recognizable series, and a strong understanding of the reading preferences of Hungary's middle classes. Its publishing program placed particular emphasis on entertaining fiction, children's books, and literature for adolescents. The strategy broadened the market for books while also giving the company a role in introducing and developing new writers. Among the authors associated with its publishing program were Ferenc Herczeg, Géza Gárdonyi, Sándor Bródy, Zoltán Ambrus, Ignotus, and Viktor Rákosi. Rather than concentrating exclusively on established literary figures, Singer and Wolfner used commercial series and periodicals to cultivate emerging talent. One of its best-known book programs was the Egyetemes Regénytár, or Universal Novel Library, launched in 1885 and published through 1931. The series followed the model of popular German fiction libraries and responded to demand for inexpensive, entertaining reading. Some volumes reportedly reached circulations of approximately 20,000, illustrating the scale of the firm's distribution and the popularity of serialized or systematically branded book publishing in the period. Other series included the Filléres Könyvtár, Piros Könyvek, Ifjúsági Könyvek, Universális Könyvtár, Modern Magyar Könyvtár, Vidám Könyvek, Milliók Könyve, Koronás Regények, and later the Uj Idők lexikona, a 24-volume lexicon issued between 1936 and 1942. Singer and Wolfner also treated visual presentation as an important part of publishing. Covers, title pages, illustrations, and ex libris designs were given substantial attention, and the firm commissioned artists and designers for carefully composed editions. This approach was especially visible after József Wolfner's death in 1932, when his son István Farkas assumed leadership. Farkas was also a painter, and the company's artistic orientation consequently became even more prominent. Hellmann Mosonyi-Pfeiffer designed many covers and decorative elements for the firm's publications. The bookselling side of the business reinforced its position in the Hungarian market. In 1912, after more than two decades of operation, the company moved its bookstore and offices to 16 Andrássy Road in Budapest. The store was described in contemporary accounts as exceptionally modern and highly finished, with elaborate interiors, large bronze chandeliers, extensive shelving, and carefully arranged displays. Géza Maróti planned the interior and façade elements, while the woodwork was produced by Joseph Kiss. Editorial offices above the store supported the firm's periodical publishing activities. Its magazine portfolio included Új idők, a literary and fine-arts weekly edited by Ferenc Herczeg and aimed largely at middle-class women; Magyar figyelő, associated with editor István Tisza; and Művészet, a fine-arts periodical edited by Károly Lyka. The children's and youth publications Magyar lányok and Én újságom were especially important. Magyar lányok, founded in 1894 by Anna Tutsek, combined fiction, poetry, theater, practical advice, and correspondence for young readers. Én újságom was a weekly children's paper associated with the poet and editor Lajos Pósa and appeared for roughly 35 years. The company's legal structure changed in 1923, when it was converted into a limited-liability company. From 1943 it operated under the name Új idők Irodalmi Intézet Részvénytársaság, or New Times Literary Institute Ltd., reflecting the growing importance of its New Times publishing identity. The available reference material does not establish the company's later ownership, operating status, or a definitive date of dissolution. Singer and Wolfner is therefore best understood as a historically significant Hungarian publishing brand whose importance rested on mass-market books, youth literature, periodicals, bookstore retailing, and the integration of literary and visual culture.
History
Singer and Wolfner was founded in Budapest in 1885 by Sándor Singer and József Wolfner, during the expansion of Hungary's modern publishing and bookselling economy after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. The period saw the emergence of limited-liability publishing companies, which could obtain more investment capital than many older small-scale firms. Singer and Wolfner used this model to develop a broad publishing and retail operation. The firm became particularly successful by publishing inexpensive books in substantial quantities and by targeting the literary interests of middle-class readers. It concentrated on entertaining fiction, children's books, and literature for young people. The company's first major branded series, Egyetemes Regénytár, began in 1885 and continued until 1931. Inspired by German popular-fiction libraries, it offered accessible novels and helped establish Singer and Wolfner as a mass-market publisher. Other series, including Filléres Könyvtár, Piros Könyvek, Ifjúsági Könyvek, Universális Könyvtár, Modern Magyar Könyvtár, Vidám Könyvek, Milliók Könyve, and Koronás Regények, expanded its reach across fiction, youth reading, popular education, and cultural subjects. Singer and Wolfner also supported writers who were young or not yet fully established. Its authors included Ferenc Herczeg, Géza Gárdonyi, Sándor Bródy, Zoltán Ambrus, Ignotus, and Viktor Rákosi. The firm combined author development with strong series branding and wide circulation, making it both a literary intermediary and a large commercial distributor. Visual design was a central part of its publishing identity. The company commissioned illustrations and carefully designed covers, title pages, and ex libris decorations. This emphasis became more pronounced after József Wolfner died in 1932 and his son István Farkas took over management. Farkas was a painter, and his leadership increased the role of fine-art values in the firm's editions. Hellmann Mosonyi-Pfeiffer was among the artists associated with its cover and decorative work. The company expanded its bookselling presence as Budapest's modern bookstores developed. In 1912 it moved to 16 Andrássy Road, where the bookstore occupied the main floor and editorial offices were located above it. The premises were designed as a high-quality modern retail and publishing environment. Géza Maróti planned the interior and façade elements, Joseph Kiss produced the woodwork, and the store used extensive shelving, large bronze chandeliers, displays, and organized presentation of books. Periodical publishing was another important activity. The firm issued Új idők, a literary and fine-arts weekly edited by Ferenc Herczeg; Magyar figyelő, associated with István Tisza; and Művészet, edited by Károly Lyka. Its youth publications were particularly influential. Magyar lányok began in 1894 under the editorship of Anna Tutsek and mixed stories, poetry, plays, practical guidance, and reader correspondence. Én újságom was a weekly children's paper connected with Lajos Pósa and ran for approximately 35 years. In 1923 the enterprise was reorganized as a limited-liability company. From 1943 it operated as Új idők Irodalmi Intézet Részvénytársaság, translated as New Times Literary Institute Ltd. The available sources do not provide enough information to determine the company's subsequent ownership, final operating date, or present legal status. Its historical legacy lies in the development of Hungarian mass-market publishing, children's and youth reading, illustrated book production, and literary periodicals.
- 1943
Renamed New Times Literary Institute Ltd.
[1]The enterprise began operating as Új idők Irodalmi Intézet Részvénytársaság.
- 1936
Uj idők lexikona begins
[1]The company began issuing the 24-volume Uj idők lexikona, completed in 1942.
- 1932
István Farkas assumes leadership
[1]After József Wolfner's death, his son István Farkas took over the publishing house and strengthened its association with fine-art presentation.
- 1923
Legal reorganization
[1]Singer and Wolfner changed its legal form to a limited-liability company.
- 1912
Move to 16 Andrássy Road
[1]The company relocated its bookstore and editorial operation to a prominent, purpose-designed address on Budapest's Andrássy Road.
- 1894
Magyar lányok launched
[1]Anna Tutsek began the illustrated weekly Magyar lányok for young female readers, combining fiction, poetry, practical material, and correspondence.
- 1885
Company founded
[1]Sándor Singer and József Wolfner established the Singer and Wolfner publishing and bookselling enterprise in Budapest.
- 1885
Egyetemes Regénytár begins
[1]The company launched its Universal Novel Library, a popular fiction series that became one of its defining commercial programs.
Products and positioning
A commercially ambitious Hungarian publisher positioned around affordable, attractive, and widely distributed reading matter, with particular strength in popular fiction, children's and youth literature, middle-class periodicals, and illustrated editions.
Popular fiction series · 1885
Egyetemes Regénytár
The Universal Novel Library was Singer and Wolfner's foundational popular-fiction series. Published from 1885 to 1931, it adapted the commercial library model associated with German publisher Engelhorn Verlag and supplied affordable, entertaining novels to a broad reading public. Some volumes reportedly achieved circulations of up to 20,000, making the series an important vehicle for the firm's mass-market strategy.
Youth periodical · 1894
Magyar lányok
Magyar lányok was an illustrated weekly for girls, founded in 1894 by Anna Tutsek. Its contents combined stories, plays, poems, letters to the editor, and practical articles about conduct, housekeeping, and personal care. The publication became one of the company's notable youth-oriented offerings.
Children's periodical
Én újságom
Én újságom, or My Newspaper, was a weekly publication explicitly written for children. It was associated with the editor and children's poet Lajos Pósa and appeared for approximately 35 years, giving Singer and Wolfner a durable presence in children's publishing.
Literary and fine-arts periodical
Új idők
Új idők, or New Times, was a literary and fine-arts weekly associated with editor Ferenc Herczeg. It was aimed principally at middle-class women and formed an important part of the company's periodical and cultural publishing program.
Reference series · 1936
Uj idők lexikona
Uj idők lexikona was a 24-volume encyclopedia issued between 1936 and 1942. It represented the company's move beyond fiction and youth publishing into substantial reference works.
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