Paper Mills in Europe. Early Playing Cards Research

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td><a name="a"><b><font size="3" color="#0033ff" face="Verdana, Arial Narrow">    A</font></b></a><a href="http://autorbis.net" target="_blank"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial Narrow">UTORBIS.net </font></a> - <a href="http://trionfi.com" target="_blank"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial Narrow">TRIONFI.com </font></a> </td> <td align="right"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial Narrow">created 2003 - 2006       </td> </tr></table><hr size="1" width="90%"> <table width="100%"><tr><td rowspan="2" width="30%" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#dddddd"> <h3>PLAYING CARDS</h3> <b><font size="+1">Very early references <br>     - 1370/80</font> <ul><br> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/90/">Introduction and list of Links</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/91/">Stuart Kaplan's list</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/92/">Huck Meyer's opinion</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/93/">Marseille 1337</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/95/">Playing Cards in Bohemia 1340 (?)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/94/">Old German/Swiss notes</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/21/">Early Paper Mills in Europe</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/01/">Early Prohibitions (- ca. 1420)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/02/">Other early Notes (- ca. 1420)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/22/">L. A. Mayer: Mamluk Playing Cards</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/96/">References Muslim World</a> </ul> <font size="+1">Germany</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/10/">Johannes of Rheinfelden 1377</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/20/">Early German Card producers</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/25/">German Decks (15th cent.)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/07/">Notes to Karnöffel, Keyserspiel </a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/c/05/">The Name Karnöffel </a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/06/">(Imperatori decks / Ferrara)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/mi/00/" target="_blank">MEISTER INGOLD</a> </ul> <font size="+1">France</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/03/">France and Burgund (14th/15th century)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/15/">The Gringonneur Case</a> <LI><A HREF="http://trionfi.com/0/p/26/">Valentina Visconti and the French Court 1392 - 1397</A> </ul> <font size="+1">England</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/45/">Earliest reference in England in 1413</a> </ul> <font size="+1">Milan</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/08/">Prohibitions Filippo Maria Visconti</a> <li><a href="http://geocities.com/research_of_tarot/doc08.html" target="_blank">Vita di Filippo Visconti</a><br><br> </ul> <font size="+1">Ferrara</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/04/">Notes about Printing (Ferrara)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/06/">Notes about Imperatori decks</a> <br>    in Ferrara (1423 - 1452) </ul> <font size="+1">Florence</font><br><ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/05/">Prohibition around Florence</a><br>    (1377 - ca. 1500) <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/14/">Conclusions about Florence </a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/09/">Notes about Minchiate </a> </ul> <font size="+1">Further Articles to <A HREF="http://trionfi.com/0/l/50/" target="_blank">CITIES</A></font><br><br> <font size="+1"><A HREF="http://trionfi.com/0/e/" target="_blank">TRIONFI DOCUMENTATION</A></font><br><br> <font size="+1">Further Articles <br>     and Conclusions </font><br>related partly also to the theme "Trionfi"<br><br> <ul> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/27/">Early Printing dates (in development)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/12/">Trionfi-Kids</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/13/">Trionfi and Church</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/18/">Count Parravicino 1903</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/25/">First appearance 5x14-theory 1974</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/23/">Early Notes to "Tarot" (provisional)</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/28/">Tarocchi appropriati</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/17/">Sermones de Ludo cum aliis<br> - Information</a><br><br> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/24/">Knights Orders</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/19/">Ronfa - Notes</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/16/">The Cardplaying Wheel</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/29/">Felix Fabri / Playing Card Notes</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/40/">Il Cortegiano / Castiglione</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/70/">Franco Pratesi: Bibliography</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/41/">Oldest Divination with Playing Cards</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/82/">Collection Playing habits</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/42/">5 Decks in Ambras Collection</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/89/">Unusual Tarocchi cards, described 1849</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/87/">Jehan Bresson, 4 Spanish Tarocchi 1570</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/43/">Vespasiano da Bisticci - gambling notes</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/44/">Connaisseur 1754 - Gambling Satire</a> <li><a href="http://trionfi.com/0/p/71/">Links to Playing Tarot/Tarock</a> </ul></b> </ul></td><td height="50" align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#dddddd"> Playing Cards - Documents and Articles </td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="top" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <h1>Early Paper Mills in Europe</h1> <ul> <li><b>1144 Spain</b><br><br> Already in the year 1144 in Xativa near Valencia the first paper production in Europe is noted. According to younger researches relevant manufacturers were also in Cordoba and Sevilla. <br><br> <li><b>1268 Italy</b><br><br> The first paper mills are recorded for Fabriano near Ancona (1268) und Amalfi. Italy had a dominant export state for Germany still in 15th century.<br><br> <li><b>ca. 1320 Cologne/Mainz</b><br><br> "Bereits um 1320 sollen zwischen Köln und Mainz Papierfabriken in Tätigkeit gewesen sein, jedoch ist genaueres über sie nicht bekannt." Already about 1320 shall have been paper mills between Cologne and Main (middle Rhine), however, nearer documentary evidence is missing. My <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 118, refers to Wattenbach, Das Schriftwesen im Mittelalter, p. 97 <br><br> <li><b>1321 Leesdorf, Austria </b><br><br> "Das älteste in Österreich hergestellte Blatt Papier, das im Archiv des Stiftes Heiligenkreuz aufgefunden wurde, ließ sich an seinem Wasserzeichen identifizieren. Die Glocke, die es trägt, schließt jede Verwechslung mit der damaligen italienischen Importware aus. Man nimmt an, dass es in jener Papiermühle geschöpft wurde, die Jan der Turs von Rauhenegg um das Jahr 1321 in Leesdorf bei Baden gegründet haben soll." The oldest Austrian paper, which was detected in the Stift Heiligenkreuz, was identified by its water sign: a bell (which makes it impossible, that it was Italian import quality). It is assumed, that it was produced in the paper mill of Leesdorf (near Baden near Vienna), which in 1321 was installed by Jan der Turs van Rauhenegg. A paper mill in Leesdorf was (still ?) active in 16th century.<br><br> Further "oldest Austrian paper mills" are noted: <ul> <li>1469 "an der Traisen" near St. Pölten <li>1498 near Wiener Neustadt <li>1517 near Graz </ul> <a href="http://members.vienna.at/difr/papier/europap.html#abs4" target="_blank">Source</a> <br></ul> <b>Personal Comment:</b> <i>The paper mill in Leesdorf near Vienna in the year 1321 should have a natural context to the 3rd Habsburg King Frederick the Fair, rival king 1314-1325 and co-regent 1326-1330 to Ludwig IV. the Bavarian. The house of Habsburg had as their home region Austria, their repeated appearance as German king (Rudolph I 1273 - 1291, Albert I 1298 - 1308 before Frederick) caused some importance for the region around Vienna. Paper was necessary for administrative activities. In similar context appear the following entries (see below) to "Au near Munich 1347" (region of German King Ludwig IV of Bavaria 1314 - 1447) and the paper mill in Nuremberg 1390 - the follower of Ludwig IV. was Emperor Charles IV. (1346 - 1378), who prefered Praha and Bohemia as home region. The region of Bohemia expanded politically in his time till the region of Nuremberg and Nuremberg was prefered by Charles IV. in a similar way as Praha.</i><br><br> <ul> <li><b>1326 France</b><br><br> In France are noted as "oldest paper mills": <br><br> <ul> <li>1326 in Ambert (today still active as paper mill Papiermühle <i>Richard de Bas</i> <li>1348 in Troyes <li>1354 in Essones near Paris </ul> <a href="http://members.vienna.at/difr/papier/europap.html#abs4" target="_blank">Source</a> <br><br> <li><b>1336 Ravensburg</b><br><br> "Die erste urkundlich nachweisbare deutsche Papiermühle ist die zu Ravensburg. Im Jahre 1336 führen die Patrizier Hans und Trick Holbain wegen einer Stampfmühle, die sie für ihr Gewerbe nötig hatten, einen Rechtsstreit. Die allgemeine Annahme geht dahin, daß unter ihr eine Papiermühle verstanden werden könnte. Ein wirklicher Papiermacher ist indes daselbst erst zwischen 1427 und 1428 nachweisbar." The oldest German paper mill with documentary evidence is the mill at Ravensburg. The two patricians Hans and Trick Holbain have a conflict in a process, whose object ist eine "Stampfmühle (stamping mill), which is assumed to be a paper mill. However, a real paper producer is mentioned first for the years 1427 and 1428. <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 123, refers to Haßler, Über die älteste Geschichte der Fabrikation des Leinenpapiers in "Verhandl. d. Ver. f. Kunst und Altertum in Ulm in Oberschwaben, 1844, S. 37 1846, S. 46. - Archiv für Geschichte des Buchhandels Bd.11 S. 312. <br>Ravensburg (near Constance) is given as place for 6 older paper mills and as a great center of European paper production.<br><br> <li><b>Other early notes in Germany</b><br><br> "Ebenso unsicher sind die Nachrichten über die Papierbereitung in Straßburg am Ende des 14. Jahrhunderts, eine Papiermühle in Au bei München 1347 und eine solche zu Chemnitz 1398. Allerdings ist die Urkunde, durch die Fürst Wilhelm von Sachsen dem Abt Niclaus und dem Konvente des Benediktinerklosters zu Chemnitz die zweien Bürgern erteilte Konzession zur Eröffnung einer Papiermühle bestätigt, erhalten. Aber man weiß doch nicht, ob die Fabrik je eröffnet worden ist." As insecure evaluated are suggestions, which propose paper mills near Strassburg in 14th century, a paper mill in the year 1347 in Au near Munich and to a paper mill in Chemnitz 1398. A document to Chemnitz still exists: Fürst Wilhelm of Sachsen gives a paper mill concession to two citizens, however, there is no evidence, that the project ever became active. <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 123, refers to Joh. Falke, Zur Geschichte der Papierfabrikation im Kurfürstentum Sachsen in Archiv für Sächsische Geschichte Bd. 1 S. 331; M. Geipel, Die Entwicklung der Papierfabrikation usw., 1911, S. 29; Fr. v. Hößle, Geschichte der alten Papiermühlen in Kempten, 1900, S. 5; Fr. Kapp, Geschichte des deutschen Buchhandels, S. 230. </ul><br> <b>Personal Comment:</b> <i>There are relatively much notes to paper mills before 1350, then a pause and an astonishing silence about paper manufacturing after 1350 till the following entry about Ulman Stromer in the year 1390 (it would be astonishing, if one assumes an unbroken paper manufacturing tradition between 1350 and 1390). I think, one should reflect this observation on the background of the great peste in 1348-1350, when in Europe about a 3rd of the population died in short time. This should have caused serious damage in a lot of the social, administrative and economical structures, which - beside many other effects - also influenced negatively the advance in paper technology, the demand for paper on the market and general trade. </i><br><br> <ul> <li><b>1390 Ulman Stromer, Nürnberg</b><br><br> Ulman Stromer founded 1390 the first German paper mill in Nürnberg (this is the general farspread version about the "first German paper mill"). Ulman Stromer (1329 - 1407) is a well recorded highstanding person in the second half of 14th century in Nuremberg, biographical details by his own hand are recorded (details are given in German biographical dictionaries, see <a href="http://mdz.bib-bvb.de/digbib/lexika/adb/images/adb036/@ebt-link?target=idmatch(entityref,adb0360619)" target="_blank"> biographical data</a>), he's given as "Rathsherr" in Nuremberg, rich merchant and business man and chronicler. The city of Nuremberg used him early in important diplomatic missions, in the year 1403 his reputation had so much grown, that he had the honor to have the German King Rupprecht as his personal guest. "Er ließ Italiener kommen, welche ihm in der oberhalb Nürnberg an der kleinen Pegnitz gelegenen Gleismühle, späterhin und heute noch unter dem Namen Hadermühle bekannt, im Jahre 1390 ein Werk errichteten mit 18 Stämpfen, die durch 2 Räder angetrieben wurden." He called Italians, who built above Nuremberg at the small river Pegnitz ... the later called Hadermühle with "18 Stämpfen" and 2 wheels. "Sie beschäftigte in den Jahren 1390-1394 nach den Aufzeichnungen Stromers selbst eine ganze Reihe von Arbeitern, unter ihnen drei Italiener, die sich eidlich verpflichteten, das Geheimnis der Papierbereitung bewahren und niemandem mitteilen zu wollen. Insbesondere die Italiener mußten schwören, daß sie "in allen teutschen landen hie disseits des Lampartischen Birgs niemandt khein Pappir machen" würden als für Stromer und dessen Erben." In the years 1390 - 1394 the mill gave work to various workmen, between them 3 Italians, who had to promise by oath, that they wouldn't work for others in all German countries "diesseits des Lampartischen Gebirges (?)" than for Stromer and his heirs and had to beware the mysteries of paper fabrication. <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 123, refers to Wehrs, Vom Papier und den vor der Erfindung desselben üblich gewesenen Schreibmassen, 1792, S. 261 ff.; Marabini, Die Papiermühlen im Gebiete der freien Reichsstadt Nürnberg, 1894, S. 17-27. The mill seems to have been closed in 1463, another mill near to Nuremberg is mentioned in Schnigling for the year 1487 as "bappyrmole". Other notes about paper mills refer in the Alsace to Strassburg 1452 (a Heilmann, brother of Andreas Heilmann, who cooperated with Gutenberg, had the papermill "vor dem Weißenthurmtore") and 1500 paper mills in Thann and Sennheim (paper producer Burchartt and Lorentz are mentioned). Further mills are in Augsburg 1468, in Kempten 1477 (between Constance and Munich) and at Wartenfels near Kulmbach (north of Nuremberg; same time). <br><br> <li><b>1432 Swiss</b><br><br> The oldest sure note about a paper mill in Swiss is from the year 1432 and concerns the paper mill of Belfaux at the Sonnaz near Freiburg. Earlier production in the paper mill of Marly near Freiburg is possible, but not documented. Further paper mills developed in short time: <ul> <li>1440 "vor dem Riehentor" in Basel <li>1448 "zu St.Alban" in Basel <li>1460 "zu Thal" and "in Worblaufen", near Bern <li>1472 "auf dem Werd" in Zürich <li>1477 "in Serrieres" bei Neuenburg </ul> <br><br> <li><b>North Germany</b><br><br> The paper mills in Southern Germany lost their importance for the cities in North Germany in second half of 15th century: Lübeck (between 1420 - 1436), Lüneburg (1476), Dresden (between 1464 and 1500), Leipzig (end of 15th century), Zittau (1510), Bautzen (1511). "In Sachsen ließ Herzog Albrecht der Beherzte "zu Behuf und Nothdurft der Hofhaltung und Canzlei" zwischen 1464 und 1500 an der Weißeritz vor Dresden eine Papiermühle erbauen. Schon vorher war 1443 in der Oberlausitz in Bautzen eine Papiermühle eröffnet worden 32), und gegen den Ausgang des 15. Jahrhunderts treten die ersten Papiermacher in Leipzig auf. Ob Benedikt Moller daselbst zwischen 1478 und 1484 Papierhändler oder Papiermüller war, bleibt freilich zweifelhaft. Sicher aber waren Papiermacher um 1492 Merten Bauer und der später sich selbständig niederlassende, anfangs bei Bauer arbeitende Dominicus Gute oder Ponat von Epinal in Lothringen. Um 1498 wurde er bezeichnet als "Dominicus der papirmacher uff Merten Bawers moel". Im Jahre 1510 wird einer Papiermühle zu Zittau Erwähnung getan, 1511 beginnt die Gründung der Mühlen in und bei Bautzen. Im Jahre 1537 erteilt Graf Hugo von Leisnig einem gewissen Burkhard Schmidt aus Glauchau, dem Stammvater der häutigen Patentpapierfabrik zu Penig, die Erlaubnis zum Bau einer Papiermühle, 1540 veranlaßte Herzog Heinrich der Fromme von Sachsen die Errichtung einer Papiermühle an der Mulde bei Freiberg durch Michael Schaffhirt den Jüngeren, den Sohn jenes gleichnamigen Mannes, der 1518 die Dresdner Mühle käuflich erwarb 34). Vielleicht von Sachsen aus angeregt, wurde im 15. Jahrhundert zu Alt=Beckern bei Liegnitz eine Papiermühle erbaut 35). In Lübeck ist während der Jahre 1420 bis 1436 das Vorkommen von Papiermühlen urkundlich belegt. Endlich läßt sich gegen 1476 in Lüneburg eine solche Anstalt nachweisen)." <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 123 <br><br> <li><b>1490 England</b><br><br> England, which knows with the year 1463 a rather late "first date for playing cards notes", reports as first paper mill the mill of John Tate near Stevenage in Herfortshire. <a href="http://members.vienna.at/difr/papier/europap.html#abs4" target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 123-124<br><br></ul> <hr width="90%"> <br><br> <h3>Further Paper notes:</h3> <b>Hildesheimer Stadtrechnungen </b>(prices for a "Ries" of paper, generally imported from North Italy). <ul> <li> 1411: started with 19-20 d in the years 1411 - 1428 <li> reached a height of 26 - 31 d from 1433-1440 <li> a rapid fall of prices in 1441 (from 31 to 19 d) <li> were lowest (14 - 16 d) from 1447 - 1450</ul><br><br> Corresponding we've in North Italy peace between Milan and Venice till 1425, a general disturbance in German-Italian connections in the time of the council of Basel (connected to Lombard wars in Italy), in 1441 a "great peace" between Venice and Milan, and since 1447 a new "book loving pope Nikolaus V." <br> Generally a factor of inflation is involved (later prices have less real worth than earlier). Without this factor it seems, that paper becomes slightly cheaper at the begin of 16th century and reaches higher prices in the 2nd half of 16th century. <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 118, refers to Doebner, Urkundenbuch der Stadt Hildesheim, Bd. 5 und 6 <br><br> <b>Italian Imports: </b>Southern Germany mainly took in 15. century its paper from Italian imports (Venice and Milan; Italian import paper lost its meaning with 16th century). The city of Görlitz/Oberlausitz (near Dresden) between 1376/1426 took its paper also from Italy. In the Hildesheimer Stadtrechnungen is occasionally "lumberdes poppyrs" (paper from Lombardy) mentioned. In German export papers from Venice in 14th century paper is mentioned. In <a href="http://portal.hsb.hs-wismar.de/pub/lbmv/mjb/jb080/348686439.html#page116Rich." target="_blank">Source</a>, p. 121<br><br> <b>(composed by autorbis)</a> </td></tr></table> <hr><br><br> <center><b><font size="1">Trionfi.com </b>has its focus on Tarot History and especially the origin of Tarot in 15th century, also the representation of about 100 000 Tarot and other playing cards in the Tarot Museum. <br><b>The Chapter "Playing Cards - Documents and Articles"</b> presents specific material to the situation of playing card development in late 14th and 15th century. <br> Author: when not otherwise specified, autorbis. Copyright: trionfi.com. 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