Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1895

This letter was written by Johannes de Koo to Philip Zilcken, in 1895, with ink on paper. It is easy to overlook the materials involved in something like this, but they shaped both the process of writing and the reception of the letter. Ink, of course, enabled the delicate, personal script. The paper provides a receptive surface for the marks, its relatively high quality speaking to the status of both writer and recipient. We know that this letter mattered; paper was still relatively expensive at the time. Consider also the labor involved. Rag paper like this was typically handmade, and although machines were available, the best stationery was still produced by skilled workers. Similarly, the ink was often carefully compounded from recipes handed down through generations. This letter, therefore, contains not only a message, but also an implicit statement about the value of skilled work and careful communication. Hopefully, Zilcken appreciated the consideration that went into its making.