Pernkopf Timeline – Page 2 – MVCC Anatomy and Physiology

1955

Eduard Pernkopf Dies

On April 17, 1955, Eduard Pernkopf dies before the 4th volume of his atlas can be published. In May or 1955, although later in life Pernkopf had denied his Nazi ties, Die Aula – an Austrian far-right wing extremist publication – published an obituary for Pernkopf that lamented the loss of „eines ihrer besten Alten Herren“ – one of their best old men. Pretty telling.

1955

W.B. Saunders acquires the rights to Pernkopf Atlas

In 1955, a representative from WB Saunders, a US medical textbook publisher, visits the Frankfurt Book Fair. At that time, the 5 (which would become 7) volumes of the Pernkopf atlas were owned and published by the Urban and Schwarzenburg company in Vienna. Lawrence Saunders made a deal with Michael Urban to remove all of Pernkopf’s text and condense the text to 2 volumes with the images labeled in English. Saunders would supply the English translations and Urban & Schwarzenberg would print the book in English and German. Saunders would be allowed to distribute the atlas worldwide. Harry Monsen of the University of Chicago Medical School would provide the translations. At that time, anatomical atlases were not a good business model, the company hoped to sell 2,000 copies to break even. Eventually 50,000 copies sold.

Dusseau, J.L. (1988). An informal history of W.B. Saunders Company. W.B. Saunders, Phiadelphia.

1957

First part of Volume 4 Published

In 1957, the first part of the Vierter Band (Volume 4) is published. This last volume is published posthumously. Werner Platzer edits the text and organizes the images for this book. No new Nazi icons appear in artist signatures.

1960

Final Part of Volume 4 Published

In 1960, the final book of the final volume of Pernkopf’s atlas is published. The text for this final book is edited by Alexander Pilcher. Pilcher was the ‘Dozentenbund fuehrer’ – leader of the National Socialist German Lecturers League. Pilcher would have been responsible for interviewing faculty at the University of Vienna Medical School and making a determination of their ‘Aryanism.’ (link for example)

1963

1st Edition of Pernkopf Published in English

In 1963, in a joint venture between Austrian/German publisher Urban & Schwarzenberg and US publisher W.B. Saunders, the first English edition of Pernkopf’s atlas are published in German and English. Helmut Ferner (University of Heidelberg) is the German editor for Urban & Schwarzeberg who is tasked with removing all of Pernkopf’s written text and Harry Monsen University of Chicago) translates the text into English. This edition was translated in to several other languages, editions have been noted in Italian and Japanese at least. While the second volume has a publication date of 1964, WB Saunders reports that the entire atlas is published and released in 1963 by the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons.

This publishing contains 32 Nazi icons and there are 3 edits of icons from the original printings. Because of this large number of icons and the artificial value this could create for this edition, no image or description of this printing is provided.

1964

1st Edition Of Pernkopf Re-Printed In English

Almost immediately, the 1st edition is re-printed in 1964. The printings are almost identical EXCEPT 22 of the Nazi icons are removed or edited some form, leaving only 10 in tact in this printing. There is no commentary by W.B. Saunders or Urban Schwarzenberg about why these edits were made.

The cover boards of the two 1st edition printings are very different but because of this large number of icons and the artificial value this could create for these editions, no image or description of this printing is provided.

1980

2nd edition of Pernkopf Atlases published in English

Whereas the 1st edition was published by WB Saunders and printed by Urban Schwarzenberg, the second Edition in English is published and printed jointly. By this printing, 1 more image has had a Nazi icon removed. This edit is different in that the edited icon was cropped out of the image.

The 2nd English edition of Pernkopf's Atlas published in 1980. — The 2nd English edition of Pernkopf’s Atlas published in 1980.

1989

3rd and final edition of Pernkopf Atlases published in English

Urban & Schwarzenberg published the final edition of Pernkopf’s atlas in 1989. Werner Platzer edited the volumes and Harry Monsen was still doing translations. This edition has the least amount of Nazi icons with only 4. Three of those are attributed to Karl Endtresser and one is a swastika in Erich Lepier’s signature.

Image of the 3rd and final edition of Pernkop's atlas published in English. — Image of the 3rd and final edition of Pernkop’s atlas published in English.