Hermann Marx | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1881 |
| Died | 24 August 1947 (aged 65–66) |
| Occupation(s) | Stockbroker and banker |
| Known for |
|
| Board member of | |
Hermann Marx (c.1881 – 24 August 1947) was a German-born British stockbroker, banker, and a noted print and book collector.
Marx was born in Germany but emigrated to Britain and became a naturalised British citizen in 1906. He worked first as a stockbroker's clerk for Nelke, Philips & Company before becoming a partner there at age 26. In 1921 he was one of four who formed the merchant bank Cull and Company with the support of Paul Nelke. The firm boasted many wealthy clients in the natural resources sector such as Chester Beatty and Calouste Gulbenkian.
Marx had a reputation for expertise in structuring deals such as the fundraising by James and Shakespeare in 1934 which was part of a failed plan by others to corner the world market in white pepper. The scheme resulted in its promoters being jailed for publishing a false prospectus in what became known as the "pepper scandal".[1]
A noted book and print collector, Marx owned a 1497 edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses printed by Lucantonio Giunti and a manuscript copy of Pietro de' Crescenzi's Liber Ruralium Commodorum ("book of rural benefits"). After his death, his library and print collection were divided between the British Museum and sales at auction by Sotheby's. He left an estate valued at £1,262,492 in 1947, equivalent to £62,390,000 in 2023.