Internally funded project
Start date : 01.01.2015
It is a truism that the early modern book world run on paper. However, the European paper trade is one of the most unknown economic activities of the early modern period. In fact, the workings of the paper trade between the fifteenth and early nineteenth centuries remain one of the least studied areas of book history. This research network, founded by Sandra Zawrel and Daniel Bellingradt in September 2015, aims to reposition the paper trade in (book) history.
What are we aiming for?
By establishing this network, we aim to bring together international experts from different disciplinary backgrounds and encourage a lively discussion on one of the most unknown economic activities of the early modern period in Europe – the paper trade. Core issues are, among others, the organisations of the paper trade viewed from a transnational/international perspective, and the various management processes linking paper production with distribution. Further, we would like to engage with recent research on paper addressed for example in media theory.
So far, and in a first step, this network brought together about 50 members from 12 different countries. We kindly invite interested colleagues to join us, just drop us a mail (sandra.zawrel@uni-erfurt.de), and please bring our network to the attention of your interested colleagues.
It is our goal to organize an international conference on the topic in the near future. Until then, we are mainly interested in documenting research efforts, discuss methodological approaches, and help developing ideas and perspectives for future activities on the impact and the details of the early modern paper trade in Europe.