Jewish Heritage

A Headstone for Zikmund Reach (1935)

Sep 3, 2026

Zikmund Reach died on 1 December 1935 of pneumonia accompanied by other serious illnesses. He was buried at the New Jewish Cemetery in Prague, in the grave of his first wife, Karoline Reachová.

We do not know the reasons for this decision today. Grave no. 017-009-030 is marked only by a stone pillar with an inscription plaque bearing the name of his first wife, together with the words “wife of a bookseller.” However, Zikmund Reach’s own name is not mentioned.

The fact that no separate grave marker was made for him may indicate more complicated family relationships.

Bookseller, collector, and photographer Zikmund Reach left behind nearly 7,000 photographs of old Prague. The collection, now preserved in the Prague City Archives, is an exceptionally valuable record of the appearance of the city at that time.
 

Help us mark his grave with dignity and honour the memory of a man whose work has preserved unique testimony to the Prague that has since disappeared.

Total cost: CZK 50,000

You can make a contribution via the Darujme.cz platform.

or by bank transfer:

Česká spořitelna a.s.
Account number: 1936566399/0800
Variable symbol: 1713
Payment reference: Neoznačené hroby_Reach

For more information, please contact us.