Breitseite

Breitseite is a German term meaning broad side, and it refers to a broadside print: a single, large sheet printed on one side, intended for public distribution or display. In the German-speaking lands from the 15th to the 19th century, Breitseiten were produced by city printers and distributed in towns via street hawkers, posted on walls, church doors, or market spaces. The content varied widely, including royal or municipal proclamations, news extracts, ballads, sermons, political or religious propaganda, and advertisements. Many Breitseiten featured woodcut illustrations or decorative typography, and they served as a portable source of information and commentary in a largely illiterate or semi-literate society.

Production and distribution: Breitseiten were usually produced cheaply and quickly, reflecting current events and local concerns. Their ephemeral nature means only a subset has survived in archives, libraries, and private collections; they are valued today by historians of culture, politics, and everyday life for insights into popular communication, language, and visual culture.

Other meanings: The term Breitseite is also used in nautical language to denote the broadside of a sailing ship—the side on which guns are mounted and fired. In modern German, the word can also appear in discussions of newspapers in the broadside format, though more commonly the term "Broadsheet" is used in that sense.

History and significance: Breitseiten provide a primary-source window into public discourse, local governance, and social networks prior to the rise of regular news media. They illustrate vernacular rhetoric, urban networks, and the persistence of print culture in pre-industrial Europe.