‘Brokers in knowledge’

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by Bram Bouwens, Ph.D., Utrecht University (The Netherlands).

Starting out as a simple bookshop in Amsterdam’s Vijzelstraat, Adrian Swets’ company grew into a leading multinational in the field of scientific information provision. Swets & Zeitlinger was a household name in the world of scientific publications. However, the business successes of the family business ultimately proved no guarantee for the future. In his book, Bram Bouwens provides a glimpse into the dynamic world of subscription agents. He describes how Dutch commercial travellers did business in China, Russia and the United States in the twentieth century and shows how the company seized and missed opportunities. The history of Swets & Zeitlinger is embedded in a broader socio-economic context, making it possible to explain both the success and the later downfall of the company. The reader is taken through a turbulent history with high peaks and deep troughs and many conflicting interests.

Source: back cover of the book.

The publisher of the Dutch version is: Amsterdam University Press
The publisher of the English version is Stichting Manutius (Manutius Trust).

The book is approx. 15,5 x 23 cm, has ± 175 pages and ± 40 (color) illustrations.