Drucksachen

Drucksachen is a German term meaning printed matter. Broadly, it covers printed materials produced by printing processes, such as brochures, catalogs, leaflets, magazines, newspapers, and other information or promotional items. The plural Drucksachen is commonly used to refer to a batch or category of printed materials, especially in publishing, marketing, and administrative contexts.

In public administration and politics, Drucksachen has a specialized meaning. Drucksachen are official documents that are printed and distributed to members of a parliament, government ministries, or committees. They include motions, questions, reports, memos, and agenda items, and they are typically cataloged with a Drucksachen number for identification in proceedings and records.

In postal service usage, Drucksache denotes a class of mail for printed matter. Items in this category are generally eligible for reduced postage compared with standard letters or parcels, provided they meet content, format, and weight criteria defined by the postal authority. Examples include catalogs, newsletters, brochures, circulars, and other printed materials mailed to recipients. Rules vary by country and postal operator.

The term also appears in general publishing and printing contexts to distinguish printed products from digital media, electronic documents, or non-printed communications. Etymologically, Drucksachen derives from drucken, to print. Related terms include Druckerzeugnis (printed product) and Büchersendung (book shipment).