Was early modern writing paper expensive? (2018)

Research into early modern writing paper in England suggests that it was not as expensive or scarce as commonly believed. Heather Wolfe, a curator at the Folger Shakespeare Library, tracked paper prices from the 1570s to the 1640s, finding that a quire (25 sheets) of regular paper typically cost around 4 pence. This price allowed an average laborer, earning 6-12 pence a day, to purchase up to 75 sheets with a day's wages. In contrast, the price of other consumables rose significantly during the same period, indicating that writing paper remained relatively affordable.

Wolfe argues that the perception of paper as expensive may stem from the printing industry, where large quantities of paper were required, making it a significant cost for publishers. However, individual purchases were generally small, and most people used ordinary paper rather than high-quality varieties. The prevalence of blank pages in manuscripts suggests that leaving paper unused was not seen as wasteful.

The practice of writing on the endleaves of printed books or other available materials likely stemmed from practicality rather than a scarcity of paper. Additionally, the lack of preserved literary drafts from figures like Shakespeare may reflect the transient nature of such documents rather than their value. Overall, the evidence points to early modern writing paper being a manageable expense for both laborers and the aristocracy.