Annotatie van E. Boursse Possibly 1671

This is a page of handwritten text by Esaias Boursse, dating from 1658. The Dutch Republic was then at the height of its Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural growth. Boursse’s annotation is a personal document, likely a note or receipt, written in a clear, legible hand. During this period, the Dutch mercantile class had expanded, and literacy was more common than in many other parts of Europe. The act of writing itself had become more commonplace, as the population engaged in wider networks of trade and communication. This page, therefore, stands as a testament to a society that valued written records. To fully understand this work, one might turn to archives of merchant families, collections of personal letters, or the records of civic institutions. By situating this annotation within its historical context, we can better appreciate its significance as a vestige of a vibrant, literate society.