Briefkaart aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1888

This is a pre-printed postcard, sent to Philip Zilcken by Jan Zürcher, dating from 1888. Its materials include the paper or cardstock itself, manufactured in a mill, and printed with standardized text. The postal stamps are also revealing; mass-produced objects designed for a specific administrative purpose. They give the card its legal status as a message in transit. The handwritten message adds another layer: the personal touch, rendered in ink, contrasting with the pre-printed elements. It speaks of the intimate connection between sender and recipient, conducted amidst the large-scale systems of production and distribution. Consider the labor involved in the making of this object. While the writing is personal, the card itself relies on complex infrastructures: paper-making, printing, the postal service. This ordinary artifact embodies the intersection of industrial production, social exchange, and individual expression. It reminds us that even the most mundane objects can carry profound cultural significance.