Namenlijst van groepen in Delftse optocht van 1862 1862

This list of names from an 1862 procession in Delft was printed anonymously, probably in a print shop close to where the event took place. As a piece of ephemera, it’s easy to overlook, but actually it tells us a lot about the era’s technologies of production, social hierarchies, and the relationship between the two. The piece was printed using movable type, a technology which by the mid-19th century was in widespread use. The even, consistent impression of the letters suggests this was a machine-printing job, not something done by hand. Setting this kind of type required focused labor. The size of the printed sheet suggests it was destined for widespread distribution. Considered in its totality, it’s a fascinating record of a particular moment in Delft. The printing process itself, though seemingly straightforward, reflects a complex set of social and economic relations. By focusing on these aspects, we can read far more into this modest piece of paper.