Private company

Norstedts Förlag

Logo: norstedts.se3

Swedish publishing company

Norstedts Förlag is a book publishing company in Sweden. Norstedts is Sweden's oldest publishing house and one of the largest in the country. It was founded in 1823 by Per Adolf Norstedt, under the name P. A. Norstedt & Söner ("P. A. Norstedt & Sons").2 It employed 180 people.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

1823Founded1
Norstedts 1823
Photo: Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons5

Norstedts Förlag is a book publishing company in Sweden. Norstedts is Sweden's oldest publishing house and one of the largest in the country. It was founded in 1823 by Per Adolf Norstedt, under the name P. A. Norstedt & Söner ("P. A. Norstedt & Sons").2

The story

The publishing company began by Per Adolf Norstedt purchasing J. P. Lindh's widow's printing company in 1821. This company had its roots in the Royal Printing firm, founded in 1526. Per Adolf Norstedt brought his sons Carl and Adolf into the business in 1823, and the company took the name of P. A. Norstedt & Söner. The company became responsible for Royal publications ten years later.

As neither son had an heir, the company was later administered by Emilia Nostedt, a niece of Per Adolf, and married to the wholesaler Gustaf Philip Laurin (1808–1859). After he died the company was managed by their sons Gösta Laurin (1836–1879), Carl Laurin (1840–1917) and Albert Laurin (1842–1878). Carl Laurin, a civil engineer, developed the company's technical and printing capabilities and was also the chief financial officer.

From Wikipedia’s article on Norstedts förlag, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Acquisitions

  1. 1928Acquired Svenska Bokförlaget1

Timeline

  1. 1823Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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    Company websiteNorstedts Förlag logo
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