Greven's Adreßbuch von Köln und Umgegend, Adreßbuch der Kreise Köln-Land, sowie von Bensberg, Bergisch-Gladbach und Porz

Greven's Adreßbuch is a foundational archival resource documenting the urban and suburban development of the Cologne region during the 20th century. Produced by the Cologne-based Greven Verlag, a publishing house established in 1827 that specialized in official directories and topographical mappings, these volumes served as essential administrative tools for commerce, taxation, and civilian navigation. The series was designed to provide a systematic census of residents, businesses, and municipal boundaries, reflecting the bureaucratic precision expected of German industrial-era record-keeping.

The editorial philosophy behind Greven's work centered on comprehensive data collection, capturing the shifting demographics and expanding infrastructure of the Rhineland. As the industrial importance of Cologne and its surrounding districts—including Bensberg and Bergisch-Gladbach—grew, these volumes became indispensable for mapping the rapid urbanization of the period. The aesthetic and organizational structure was intentionally utilitarian, prioritizing readability and systematic categorization to assist the public and municipal authorities in navigating a region undergoing significant economic transformation.