Papiertypemaat

Papiertypemaat is a term found in some Dutch- and German-language printing and papermaking traditions. It denotes a shorthand descriptor used to specify a paper’s type or grade and its size in a single designation. In practice, a single papiertypemaat could indicate both the paper finish or surface characteristics (for example, coated or uncoated, brightness) and the intended format or size for printing. The exact combination varies by supplier and era, and there is no universally binding standard for what each element implies.

Etymology and historical context: The word is formed from papier (paper), typ (type) and maat (measure/size) in Dutch and related Germanic languages. It appears in historical catalogs and trade documents from the Low Countries and Central Europe, where printers and paper merchants used compact descriptors to simplify orders. As a product descriptor, it served to communicate practical requirements in environments with diverse paper stocks and formats.

Relation to modern standards: In contemporary practice, the term is rarely used, and standard references separate specifications for paper type (finish, basis weight, brightness) from paper size (ISO sizes or country-specific formats). Papiertypemaat is thus largely of historical interest, though it may surface in archival materials, old trade catalogs, or discussions of early modern printing logistics.

See also: Paper size, Papierformat, Papermaking, Paper grade, Printing.