COTTA, the name of a very old German publishing-house, established at Tubingen in 1649, and still one of the most flourishing in Germany. The family came from Italy about the beginning of the 15th century. Its most prominent member was Joh. Friedr., Freiherr von C., a meritorious theologian of the 18th century.
Jou. FRIEDII., FREIHERR YON C., one of the most eminent publishers that Germany ever produced, was b. at Stuttgart, 27th April, 1764. He was educated at the university of Tubingen, and for some time practiced as an advocate. In 1787, lie undertook to conduct the family book-trade at Tubingen; and in 1795, established the Horen, literary journal, under the editorship of Schiller. In the same year, be commenced two larger periodicals, the Politischen Annalen and the JahrbUcher der Baukunde. In 1798, he established the Allgemeine Zeitung—still published at Augsburg—the Almanaeh fur Damen, and other works of a similar kind. C. now began to publish the works of the illustrious modern authors of Germany, such as Goethe, Herder, Fichte, Schelling, Jean Paul. Tieck, Voss, Therese Huber, Matthisson, the Humboldts, Joh. von Muller, and
Spittler. Besides the periodicals already mentioned, C. established the Morgenblatt and the Literaturblatt, and carried on the EunAtblatt, founded by Schorn. In 1810, he went to live at Stuttgart. The nobility of his familv, which dated far back, was confirmed ill his person under the title of Freiherr C. von'Oottendorf. In 1824, he introduced the first steam-press into Bavaria, and, shortly after, founded at Munich the literary and artistic institute. He died 29th Dee., 1832. C.'s political principles were liberal, but temperate. In the diet of Witrtemberg, and afterwards as president of the second chamber, he was always the fearless defender of constitutional rights. In manners, C. was simple and pure; and although covered with titles and orders from different gov ernments, he had neither the pride nor the selfishness of a hereditary patrician. The first Wtirtemberg proprietor who abolished servitude on his estates, C. also furthered the interests of his farmers by building model-farms, and by setting an example in all rural improvements.