A ‘Print Revolution’ in Business?

Talbott, Siobhan

Abstract

The ‘print revolution’ underpinned the emergence and growth of a variety of conduits of business information, including printed prices current, commercial newspapers, exchange rates current, and advice books, as there was an expansion in the production and circulation of printed material. However, while the volume of printed information increased, this was not always to the benefit of those involved in business. This chapter explores the ways that merchants used—or did not use—printed material, exposes the problems with it, and shows how those in business circumvented and enhanced it. The circulation of manuscript and oral information remained crucial, and the agency of individuals in creating and sharing their own news and information had significant implications for the conduct of business. The idea that printed information was increasingly ubiquitous and easily accessible was not always reflected in the experiences of early modern commercial agents.

Citation

Talbott, S. (2025). A ‘Print Revolution’ in Business?. In Knowledge, Information and Business Education in the British Atlantic World, 1620 - 1760 (24-49). Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198926825.003.0002

• Publication Date: Mar 13, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 26, 2025
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Pages: 24-49
• Book Title: Knowledge, Information and Business Education in the British Atlantic World, 1620 - 1760
• Chapter Number: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198926825.003.0002
• Keywords: print revolution, newspapers, war, politics, commercial press, information overload, correspondence, markets
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1078487