# Lithographie Wolf AG
**Wikidata**: [Q100755900](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100755900)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lithographie-wolf-ag

## Summary
Lithographie Wolf AG was a Swiss printing company headquartered in Basel that specialized in lithography. Founded in 1849 by Georg Wolf as Lithographie Georg Wolf, the business operated as an Aktiengesellschaft (stock corporation) until its dissolution in 1923, when it was replaced by Lithographie zum Gemsberg.

## Key Facts
- Founded: 1849 by Georg Wolf
- Legal Form: Aktiengesellschaft (stock corporation)
- Location: Unterer Heuberg 2, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Field of Work: Lithography
- Instance of: Business, printing company
- Official Names:
  - Lithographie Georg Wolf (until 1901)
  - Lithographie Wolf (1901–1923)
- Dissolved: 1923
- Replaced by: Lithographie zum Gemsberg
- Aliases: Lithographie Wolf
- Commons Category: Lithographie Wolf AG
- Wikipedia Presence: 1 sitelink (Commons)

## FAQs
**Who founded Lithographie Wolf AG and when was it established?**
Georg Wolf founded the company in 1849 in Basel, Switzerland, initially operating under the name Lithographie Georg Wolf.

**What was the company's official name throughout its history?**
The company operated as Lithographie Georg Wolf from its founding until 1901, when it was renamed Lithographie Wolf, a name it retained until its dissolution in 1923.

**Where was Lithographie Wolf AG located?**
The company was headquartered at Unterer Heuberg 2, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.

**What happened to Lithographie Wolf AG?**
The company was dissolved in 1923 and replaced by Lithographie zum Gemsberg.

## Why It Matters
Lithographie Wolf AG represents an important chapter in the history of Swiss printing and graphic arts. Operating for over seven decades during a transformative period in printing technology, the company contributed to Basel's reputation as a center for printing and publishing. The transition from its founding by Georg Wolf through its corporate evolution to eventual succession by Lithographie zum Gemsberg illustrates the broader patterns of business continuity and consolidation in the Swiss printing industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

## Notable For
- Operating continuously for 74 years in the lithography trade
- Transitioning from an individual founder's name to a corporate entity (Aktiengesellschaft)
- Being part of Basel's rich printing heritage
- Changing its official name in 1901, reflecting the company's evolution beyond its founder
- Being succeeded by Lithographie zum Gemsberg, indicating business continuity in the Basel printing sector

## Body

### Founding and Early History
Lithographie Wolf AG was established in 1849 by Georg Wolf in Basel, Switzerland. The company was created during a period when lithography had become a fundamental printing technology across Europe. From its inception, the company bore its founder's name, operating as Lithographie Georg Wolf. The founding date is documented in the Swiss Social Archives, which hold photographic records of the company's early operations.

### Corporate Structure and Legal Form
The company operated as an Aktiengesellschaft (AG), the Swiss equivalent of a stock corporation or joint-stock company. This legal form indicates that Lithographie Wolf had evolved from a sole proprietorship or partnership into a corporation with share capital, suggesting significant business growth and the need for expanded financial resources. As an Aktiengesellschaft, the company would have had a board of directors and shareholders, operating under Swiss corporate law.

### Location and Operations
Lithographie Wolf AG was headquartered at Unterer Heuberg 2, 4051 Basel, Switzerland. Basel, situated in northwestern Switzerland near the borders of France and Germany, has historically been a major center for the printing and publishing industry. The city's position as a cultural and commercial hub made it an ideal location for a lithography business. The company specialized in lithography, a printing method that involves creating images on stone or metal plates and transferring them to paper or other materials.

### Name Changes and Evolution
The company underwent a significant name change in 1901, transitioning from Lithographie Georg Wolf to Lithographie Wolf. This change, documented in the Swiss Historical Dictionary, reflected the company's growth beyond its original founder and its establishment as a standalone corporate entity. The name Lithographie Wolf remained in use from 1901 until the company's dissolution in 1923.

### Dissolution and Succession
Lithographie Wolf AG ceased operations in 1923. Rather than simply closing, the company was replaced by Lithographie zum Gemsberg, suggesting a continuation of the business under a new name and possibly new ownership or organizational structure. This transition ensured that the lithography expertise and customer relationships built over 74 years were not lost but rather transferred to a successor organization. The dissolution and replacement are documented in the Swiss Historical Dictionary.

### Legacy and Documentation
The company's history is preserved through several channels. It has a dedicated Commons category on Wikimedia, containing visual documentation of the company's work and history. The Swiss Social Archives maintain photographic records related to the company (referenced via bild-video-ton.ch), while the Swiss Historical Dictionary provides textual documentation of its name changes and eventual dissolution through e-periodica.ch. The company's presence in these archival sources indicates its significance within the Swiss printing industry during its operational period.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sha-001%3A1900%3A18%3A%3A169&referrer=search#169)
2. [Source](https://www.bild-video-ton.ch/bestand/objekt/Sozarch_F_Fe-0004-08)
3. [Source](https://www.e-periodica.ch/digbib/view?pid=sha-001%3A1923%3A41%3A%3A1780&referrer=search#1780)