Untitled (List of Participants in the Maskerade, 1840) - H. Schreuder

A historical letterpress document from 1840 listing the participants of a Dutch masquerade procession.

This document, titled 'Aanwijzing der Personen voorkomende in de MASKERADE van den 8sten Februarij 1840', serves as a formal register for a historical procession. The text provides a structured inventory of participants involved in a specific masquerade event held in the Netherlands during the mid-nineteenth century. It categorises individuals by their roles, including knights, squires, city councillors, and various members of the clergy and military.

The typography follows the conventions of Dutch printing from the 1840s, utilising a clear, serif typeface designed for legibility. The layout is organised into four distinct columns, with headings that delineate the social and functional hierarchy of the participants. This type of printed matter was common for public events, allowing spectators to identify the figures appearing in the parade. The document reflects the period's interest in historical reenactment and civic pageantry, where such processions were used to commemorate local history or specific cultural milestones.

As a piece of historical ephemera, the print offers a glimpse into the social organisation of the time. The names listed include various noble titles and civic positions, providing a record of the individuals who took part in the festivities. The paper stock and ink application are characteristic of mid-nineteenth-century commercial printing, intended for distribution among the public rather than for artistic display. Today, such documents are preserved in archives for their value in genealogical and social history research. The print remains a functional record, capturing a specific moment in the civic life of the Netherlands in 1840.