The Société Typographique de Neuchâtel (STN) and the Politics of the Book Trade in Late Eighteenth-Century Europe,1769–1789

Abstract

Disseminating literature in eighteenth-century Europe was an immense and intricate undertaking. This article concentrates on a somewhat neglected facet of the print trade during this age; namely the role and significance of political support and protection. Making use of the extant records of an eighteenth-century publishing house, this article highlights how government agents collaborated and cooperated with book traders. The Société typographique de Neuchâtel was a Swiss publishing business which harnessed the power of government agents from across the continent by enlisting their assistance as commercial intermediaries. Whilst the capabilities, willingness and opportunities available to these individuals limited the scope of their actions, they were nevertheless participants in a network of patronage which helped to sustain the international print trade of eighteenth-century Europe.