Special exhibition in the Wetzlar City Museum: The fascinating world of the Exlibris!

Special exhibition in the Wetzlar City Museum: The fascinating world of the Exlibris!

A very special treat for book lovers and art lovers is just around the corner: From July 3 to October 12, 2025, the Wetzlar City Museum offers an exciting special exhibition on Exlibris. In cooperation with the Waldmuseum Dr. Kanngiesser in Braunfels are presented here rare booksters from the impressive collection of Alexander Kerrutt and loans from the Gießen University Library. The exhibition illuminates the fascinating history and the diversity of the Exlibris, which have been part of the book culture since the 15th century, such as [Mittelhessen.de] (https://www.mittelhessen.de/lahn-dill-kreis/wetzlar/ exhibition-zu-exlibris-szen-4713145) reported.

What are exlibris anyway? These booksters were originally created to identify a book owner. They were already widespread at the time of Werther, and their tradition began in parallel to the invention of book pressure and graphic techniques in the 15th century. The current exhibits of the Wetzlar exhibition give an insight into the different thematic orientation of Exlibris and also tell of Wetzlar's city history. The first presentation is supplemented by an accompanying catalog that is available for 20 euros. For collectors there is also a limited special edition with exlibris from artists from Breslau and Rome at the price of 30 euros, such as [wetzlar.de] (https://wetzlar.de/rathaus/aktuemiTeilungen/2025/juni/sonder exhibition-ueber-ueber-exlibris- sign.php) added.

A look at the collection

The exhibition in the city museum offers a selection of one of the largest private collections of Exlibris in Germany. Alexander Kerrutt has compiled a unique legacy here that is not only artistically valuable, but also shows the development and change in the field of book graphics. The collection is supplemented by two loans from the Gießen University Library.

Another exciting aspect of the exhibition is the composition of the Exlibris itself. These small works of art were and are a playground for graphic artists and book lovers. In the Middle Ages, for example, both nuns and monks as writers have worked, with the book collector Margarethe of Rodemacher as an important figure of the late Middle Ages. She surrounded herself with an exquisite circle of book enthusiasts and captured part of her family history in her books. These are just a few examples that bring us closer to the rich tradition of books and their signs, as described in Deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de.

visit and collector editions

If you want to convince yourself of this cultural enrichment, you can visit the city museum on Lottestrasse, which is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition not only inspires with your content, but also with the opportunity to take home a piece of excerable art. An interesting overview of the art of the book number is waiting for all visitors and will also be in the Waldmuseum Dr. Kanngiesser in Braunfels from March 21 to May 31, 2026.

whether as a work of art or as part of your own book collection - Exlibris are more than just a book number. They are small stories that are waiting to be discovered.