Peter Tidemand Malling
Peter Tidemand Malling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Strømsø, Drammen, Norway |
| Died | April 19, 1878 (aged 70) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, bookseller, printer, publisher |
| Known for | Innovator in publishing; founder of Dagbladet newspaper; chairman of Norwegian Booksellers Association |
Peter Tidemand Malling (20 November 1807 – 19 April 1878) was a notable Norwegian entrepreneur in bookselling, printing, and publishing, regarded as an innovator within the publishing sector during the mid-1800s.
Background
Malling was born in Strømsø, presently incorporated into Drammen in Buskerud County, Norway. He was the son of Michael Malling (1776–1834) and Maren Elisabeth Klein (1777–1856). His education included attendance at schools in Strømsø and Drammen Latin School. Subsequently, he undertook an apprenticeship with Carl F. Rode, who was Drammen’s pioneering book printer. By 1827, Malling had gained experience working for a prominent printing house in Amsterdam. Two years later, in 1829, he served as a factor for Hans T. Winther’s printing and lithography establishment located in Christiania (now Oslo). Between 1835 and 1838, he managed printing operations at Guldberg & Dzwonkowski, where he was responsible for the illustrated publication Skilling-Magazin.
Career
In January 1838, Malling founded his own enterprise specializing in publishing instructional manuals, culinary books, medical literature, and other non-commercial works. He expanded his business in 1840 by purchasing Louis Risum's printing workshop and transferring it to Tønsberg, while continuing his publishing activities in Christiania. Starting January 1839, he initiated the newspaper Dagbladet, which concentrated on commerce, maritime affairs, industry, and political matters. In 1841, he launched another publication titled Tønsbergs Mercur. From 1842 onward, his printing operations were conducted under the name Det Mallingske Boktrykkeri.
Malling’s press also produced banknotes for Norges Bank over several years. During the 1860s, he published the poetry volume Symra along with Ivar Aasen’s Norwegian grammar. He maintained a professional relationship with Henrik Wergeland, issuing multiple works by him; Wergeland contributed a poem to the inaugural edition of Tønsbergs Mercur and acted as its correspondent based in Christiania.
In 1851, Malling played a key role in founding the Norwegian Booksellers Association and later served as its chairman from 1870 until his death in 1878. Although he divested from the printing business in 1873, it continued to operate under the name Det Mallingske Bogtrykkeri.
Other sources
- Andersen, O. S. Bilder av bokhandelens historie gjennom hundre år (1950)
- Jacobsen, G. Norske boktrykkere og trykkerier gjennom fire århundrer 1640–1940 (1983)