Karl Baedeker

Baedeker, Karl (bāˈdĕkər) [key], 1801–59, German publisher, founder of the Baedeker guidebooks. His printing establishment was at Koblenz, but his son Fritz, who continued the business, moved it to Leipzig. Printed in several languages, the guidebooks provided valuable historical information and ran into many editions, especially for European countries. Although the firm's files were destroyed during World War II, the business was revived after the war by a great-grandson of Baedeker. In 1950 the firm began publishing automobile touring guides.