Fridsma Antique Prints Collection

Collection

Identifier: COLL-604

Scope and Contents

The Fridsma Antique Prints Collection consists of 8 individual pages printed with different designs from different printers between the 18^th and early 19^th century. The purpose of each print seems to be educational, and the designs may have been part of an almanac or sold individually by the printer. Some of the prints a dabbed with colored ink. It is unknown whether this was done by the printer or a member of the Fridsma family. However, there is a collection of similar prints in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands that contains a similar coloring technique. It is possible that this was done by the printer to test color choice or technique of color printing. Additionally, some of the pages have a watermark that is revealed with a lightbox. There is potential to identify the watermark design for further study.

Dates

Other: Date acquired: 09/02/2022

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use within Heritage Hall.

Biographical or Historical Information

These prints belonged to the donor’s grandfather, Klaas (Nick) Fridsma. As a child in the Netherlands, Klaas lived with his family on his father, Jouke’s turfskip (peat barge). Klaas and his siblings sometimes attended school, but other times were homeschooled on the barge. It is thought that these prints were part of his home-school curriculum. Klaas saved these prints and brought them to the United States. He held on to the prints through each successive move, and eventually passed them down to his children and grandchildren, including the donor.

Note written by

Full Extent

1.00 box

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection of 8 loose prints from the 18^th-19^th century. These prints are an example of printing and illustration techniques as well as educational content from the time period.

Source of Acquisition

Steven P. Fridsma

Method of Acquisition

Donation

Related Materials

Similar prints are housed in the collection of the [url=https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search?p=1&ps=12&ps=12&involvedMaker=De%20Vri%20%26%20Van%20Stegeren%20Clement&involvedMaker=De%20Vri%20%26%20Van%20Stegeren%20Clement&st=Objects&st=Objects&ii=0]Rijksmuseum[/url] in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. [url=https://archives.calvin.edu/index.php?p=creators/creator&id=430]Bernard J. Fridsma[/url] was the brother of Klaas Fridsma, grandfather of the donor. Bernard became a professor of Germanic languages at Calvin College. His papers are housed in Heritage Hall as the [url=https://archives.calvin.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=470&q=fridsma]Bernard J. Fridsma Collection[/url].