fürstlich sächsischer hofbuchdruckerei of altenburg, germany, is used generically in this article to denote a succession of book printers (sometimes synonymous with "publishers") based in altenburg, in the german state of thuringia (formerly east germany), that — under various capacities, names, and owners – have endured as one continuous printing operation, without interruption (save and except wars), for years — since 1594, the early modern german period. the bookbinding aspect of the business included a bindery.