Liebe zu Ihm – Love for the Porsche

Liebe zu Ihm probably is one of the most collectible books on the subject Porsche.
Liebe zu Ihm - Love for the Porsche by Herman Lapper
Cover page Liebe zu Ihm – Love for the Porsche

The book was published in august 1960 by a private publisher Hermann Lapper from Stuttgart-Kaltental, with permission of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche K.G. Stuttgart – Zuffenhausen. The book is what is called a coffeetable book, with full-page pictures of Porsches 356 and a small description of the pictures in 5 languages. (German, English, French, Italian and Spanish).

My explanation for the use of 5 languages is that the editor wanted to reach ALL the possible Porsche customers and Porsche Lovers in the entire world. I still have many questions about the book and the editor and if anyone can help me with this… please don’t hesitate

Some time ago , I found some original advertising material for the Liebe Zu Ihm book, which is even rarer than the book itself. In my personal collection, among unsigned Liebe zu Ihm books, I have some rare signed copies too.

Underneath you can find both the German and English version of the letter , included in Porsche Christophorus Magazines , to promote the book.

Liebe zu Ihm - Love for Porsche without dustcover
Liebe zu Ihm – Love for Porsche without dustcover

Liebe zu Ihm without the dust-cover. It shows a 3 coloured logo embroided on a linen hardcover. The logo shows the contours of a Porsche 550 Spyder in the contours of a Porsche 356. I guess the other lines are meant to show the curves of the wind blowing in a windtunnel. Perhaps these curves must make the presumption of speed..

Promotional items for the book Liebe zu Ihm – Love for the Porsche

Until recently… I thought this logo was the logo of the Porsche Liebe zu Ihm book. But I found an Porsche 356 B brochure which is rather rare (it is not mentioned in the Merrit and Miller sales literarure book) that has the same logo on the back cover.

German promotion letter for Liebe zu Ihm book, attached to Porsche Christophorus magazines
German promotion letter for Liebe zu Ihm book, attached to Porsche Christophorus magazines

German promotional letter Stuttgart, im Fruhjahr 1960

Sehr verehrte Porsche-Fahrerin, lieber Porsche-Freund!

Was ist es, was uns am Porschewagen immer wieder fasziniert ?

Noch hat es niemand klar ausgesprochen. Ist es die Schonheit der Linie, ist es die Kraft und Starke seines Motors oder ist es die untergrundige Tatsache, dass man sich im Porsche frei fuhtl von mancherlei Hemmungen ? Oder ist es vielleicht jenes Quentchen Eitelkeit, das dazu gehort und das wir als lebensbejahendes Element nicht missen mochten ?

Wo ist der Dichter, der fur uns die wirklich gultige Formel findet, indem er das Seelenleben des Porschefahrers seziert und psychoanalytisch erlautert ?

Fest steht jedenfalls, dass Porsche-Fahrer eine besondere LIEBE ZU IHM haben und in ihrem Wagen mehr sehen als ein blosses Fortbewegungsmittel. Diese LIEBE ZU IHM war Ausgangspunkt einer Arbeit, die wir Ihnen im Sommer 1960 prasentieren mochten.

LIEBE ZU IHM – so nennt sich das Bildwerk – das mit Genehmigung der Dr.-Ing. h.c. F. Porsche K.-G in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, privat verlegt wird.

Eind Bildwerk uber den Porsche aus den Jahren 1950-1960, mit ca. 90 Aufnahmen, Luxusformat, hochwertiges Kunstdruckpapier, funf sprachen. Dieses Porsche-Bilderbuch wird sicher bei vielen Porsche-Feunden grossen Anklang finden, so dass wir uns erlauben werden, Ihnen rechtzeitig ein Bestell-Formular zuzustellen. Die Auslieferung ist fur September 1960 vorgesehen, damit Sie Ihren Weihnachts-Geschenk-Bedarf entsprechend berucksichtigen konnen.

Soviel heute zu Ihrer freundlichen Information.

Mit vorzuglicher Hochachtung
Hermann Lapper

English promotional letter Stuttgart, spring 1960

Dear Porsche friend, What is it that keeps fascinating us about the Porsche ?

Nobody has ever expressed it clearly. Is it the beauty of the line, is it the power and strength of the engine, or is it the impenetrable fact that one loses some of one’s inhibitions when driving a Porsche? Or is it perhaps that little bit of vanity which goes with it and which we should not like to miss, as it is a part of the positive attitude to life.

Where is the poet who will be able to tell us why, by analyzing the mentality of the Porsche owner and by explaining it psycho-analytically?

However, it is quite certain that Porsche owners have a special LOVE FOR THEIR CAR and see more in it than merely a means of transportation.

LOVE FOR THE PORSCHE – that is how the illustrated book is called-  which is being published privately with the permission of the Dr. -Ing. h.c. F.Porsche K.-G.

It is a book about Porsche over the years 1950-1960 with about 90 photographs. A deluxe edition in high-quality glossy paper and five languages. This Porsche picture book will be certainly welcomed with great enthusiasm by many Porsche friends. We shall take the liberty of sending you an order form in due time. The book will be available by September 1960, to give you enough time to decide whether you want to include it among your Christmas gifts.

In the meantime, we remain,

Sincerely yours
Hermann Lapper