Sea of Print. Printed administrative paperwork in maritime commerce of the seventeenth-century Dutch Republic

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of administrative printed documents – such as forms, receipts, lists and instructions – in the administration and regulation of maritime commerce in the seventeenth-century Dutch Republic. It explores the use of this type of print in three contexts: in Dutch Republic itself, on board of Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships, and in international maritime encounters throughout Europe. This study demonstrates that, alongside an expansion of the scale and complexity of maritime bureaucracy throughout the seventeenth century, there was an increase in the use of administrative print. Such print served as a key instrument in the state’s efforts to regulate and standardise increasingly complex administrative and operational procedures. This thesis argues that, firstly, administrative print functioned as instruments of governance and authority within the everyday lives of individuals active within the maritime sector. Secondly, it facilitated and aided record-keeping and the proper functioning of administrative systems of the state. Thirdly, it facilitated and mediated international interactions. Furthermore, basing itself on a unique collection of rare items of print – primarily from the ‘Prize Papers’ archive – this study adds to our understanding of the role and use of ephemeral print within the printing sector of the Dutch Republic, and its importance within the everyday lives of its citizens. This study contributes to historiographies on information-management, state communication, book history, and maritime history.