Born in the town of Bad Camberg in the Duchy of Nassau (later annexed to Prussia) in 1843, the parents of Jacobo Peuser arrived in Argentina in 1855 when he was 12 years old. Instead of settling in the capital, they moved to the province of Santa Fe. Young Jacobo inclined toward graphic arts & all aspects of book production, founding one of the most successful publishing companies in Argentina. From 1867 until the beginning of the 20th century, the Peuser empire continued to expand with several production plants in Buenos Aires & branches in most major cities in Argentina. Peuser passed away in 1901 just before his 58th birthday.
During the company’s long existance, Peuser became best known for guidebooks. The predecessor for the modern day Guía T, the little red Guía Peuser contained numerous, invaluable listings for Buenos Aires: street names, transportation timetables, business directories… no household was without one. Peuser also expanded into national tourism, making an equivalent of the Michelin Guide in Argentina. Although the guides do not exist today, copies can be found easily in Mercado Libre (source for photos below):
As a compliment to their guidebooks, Peuser produced a series of postcards which showcased the beauty of Argentina at the end of the 19th century. Valued by collectors, the photos give us a view of the entire nation… not just Buenos Aires:
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