500 years of the Delft Bible as a typographic stamp

Typographic stamps are not particularly popular or appealing to the general public. However, after reading the background information, it turns out that a great deal of interesting information (with the necessary contradictions) has actually been packed (hidden) behind such a stamp, which is not immediately obvious. Knowledge of this gives the stamp a meaningful presence nonetheless!

Delft Bible stamp

In the 15th century, text was manually composed using movable lead letters, as is executed on the postage stamp with the letters 'd' and 'B'. Opposite both Gothic letters (meaning Delft Bible) stands, as a contrast, a schematically executed electronically typographic letter 'a', filled with a horizontal striped pattern. View the mechanically produced text on the adjacent tab as a logical next step from the letter 'a'. [1] On the top layer of this layered stamp image, the country name with face value and the text '1477 Delftse Bijbel 1977' are printed. [2] On the second layer are the Gothic letters 'd', 'B' (three-dimensional) and the electronic letter 'a'. [3] On the bottom layer is the Gothic text fragment from Job 19:23 and 24 from the Delft Bible. The stamp pays specific attention not only to the typographical aspect of the Delft Bible with the Gothic lead letters 'a' and 'b' in mirror writing, but also to the typography, featuring a diagram of the electronically created 'a' of the printed book.

Delft Bible

The Delft Bible was the first printed Dutch-language book in our country. It is a translation of the Old Testament excluding the Psalms. This Bible, printed by hand in Delft, was compiled in 1477 by Jacob Jacobszoon van der Meer and Mauricius Yemantszoon van Middelborch. However, this book was preceded by earlier printed work in Latin. The Bible text reads: “Who shall grant that my words may be written: Who can grant that they be written in a book with a pencil or in a lead plate: or that they be carved with a chisel in a stone.” Written in more contemporary Dutch from Job, chapter 19, verses 23 and 24: “Oh, that my words were written down, oh, that they came into a book, engraved in lead with an iron stylus, carved forever in a rock!”

Typographical comparison

The text in Gothic script on the stamp is taken from the Bible. Because this text is presented in isolation from the rest of the complete biblical text, it lacks its religious significance. In this way, typographic designer Gerrit Noordzij places the text in a broader, neutral context, so that it no longer possesses any religious meaning in terms of content. Thanks to this broadening of emphasis, the printing of the Bible and the printing of the book can easily be placed side-by-side in terms of typography, and the difference can be compared.

First-ever Delft Bible stamp sheet

The issuance of the stamp with a tab is a first for our country. It is the first time that extensive background information has been presented on a tab next to a stamp. The text even gives the 'a' a more extensive meaning.