The Short Title Catalogus Vlaanderen (STC Flanders, www.stcv.be) is a toolfor book historical research, offering a representative sample of the output ofthe printing press in the 17th century. To show the broad scope of this production,this article presents the example of 100 books printed in 1621. Afteran overview of subject matters (current events, theology, literature, history,state publications and law), printing is studied as an economic activity.Different categories of printers can be distinguished: a select group of entrepreneursspecialise in massive theological undertakings (Moretus, Nutius,Bellerus) while another, larger group has a more diverse output. Typographyis presented as a way to investigate reading habits. Many questions remain,but the STCV database presents a first big step towards answers.
