Vierde eeuwfeest van de uitvinding van de boekdrukkunst 1740 - 1823

This medal, made by Martin Holtzhey, commemorates the fourth centenary of the invention of printing in Haarlem. Minted with precision, this work is both an object of celebration and a statement of cultural pride. On one side, we see Laurens Janszoon Coster, hailed in Haarlem as the inventor of printing. The reverse side marks the anniversary celebration on July 10, 1823, underscoring the city's claim to this pivotal innovation. What’s fascinating here is how a city's identity is wrapped up in the narrative of invention, a narrative that, like all histories, is subject to interpretation and debate. This medal encapsulates a specific cultural and historical narrative, one that seeks to define and celebrate Haarlem's place in the history of printing. It invites us to consider how such narratives are constructed, and whose stories they prioritize.