Hermann Philippsberg, a German fur trader, worked for the Firma Mertens in Leipzig for about 40 years, as 'Prokurist'. In the 1920's he started his own business in the same building, Brühl 56-60 - Hermann was the brother of "Bianca Philippsberg", handed down as the first female master furrier (Kürschnermeisterin) (ca. 1914, Lüben/Lubin).