Lucas Haasis found a time capsule: A complete mercantile letter archive of the merchant
Nicolaus Gottlieb Luetkens who lived in 18th century Hamburg. Luetkens travelled France between
1743-1745 in order to become a successful wholesale merchant. He succeeded in this undertaking
via both shrewd business practice and proficient skills in the practice of letter writing.
Based on this unique discovery in this microhistorical study Lucas Haasis examines the crucial
steps and activities of a mercantile establishment phase the typical letter practices of Early
Modern merchants and the practical principles of persuasion leading to success in the 18th
century.
