Millbourn British Handmade 10 SHEET PACK

SOLD IN PACKS OF 10

This beautiful antique handmade paper dates from between 1900 and 1951.

The colour is white, and the surface is EXCEPTIONALLY smooth with a glazed, glass-like surface. There are natural deckles to all four sides.

Despite Millbourn being a little known name in papermaking, we are astonished at the quality of this paper and cannot recommend it highly enough, it's beautiful!

HISTORY: This paper was made at Tuckenhay Mill, Devon England by A Millbourn & Co. 

The mill was converted from a fulling mill to a papermill in about 1830, when paper was first produced by a Richard Turner. 

Arthur Millbourn was the proprietor from 1900 to 1951. The Millbourns, originally from Kent, had been involved in milling since at least the 1860s. Arthur sold Little Darenth Mill in Kent and purchased Tuckenhay.

His ownership overseeing saw continued growth in terms of hands on deck, new buildings constructed, and papermaking vats added (the equipment required for teams of men to make paper by hand).

The post war years saw a decline in the demand for handmade paper, in fact, in 1953 it was listed as one of only four mills still manufacturing paper by hand. It was sold on to new owners in 1951 and last made paper there in 1962. 

MODERN USE: This will be of interest to antique paper collectors, the size and completeness of the sheets making them very rare.

Above is a letterpress relief print made on Millbourn Handmade

For creative purposes this paper will be suitable for artists, printmakers, calligraphers, and bookbinders. 

The highly smooth, heavily sized surface will be of particular interest to artists specialising in fine detail work, such as botanical watercolour and illustration. 

CONDITION

The condition of this paper is excellent, in a virtually brand new state.

At 120gsm, this may seem quite a lightweight paper compared to modern sheets, however, thanks to it's true rag fibre, glazed surface and heavy sizing (gelatine), this will work in ways in which modern paper couldn't contemplate.

A sheet, seen here backlit, is flawless, and with superb fibre distribution.

Size: 21⅛ x 16¾ inches, 533 x 427 mm (approximately)

Before modern size types (A4, A3 etc), paper sizes were given names such as Foolscap, Imperial, Post etc. 

This paper's designated traditional size is "Large Post", and is closest to modern A2 in size 23¼ x 16½, 594 x 420 mm.

Large Post size was traditionally used in correspondance and record keeping papers, this type, with its very smooth surface would most likely have been made for ledgers, its surface being incredibly tough.

You can read a lot more about traditional paper sizes in our blog.

Weight: 119gsm +/-, heavy text-weight (varies slightly from sheet to sheet)

Surface: Laid

Fibre: Linen & Cotton

Watermarks: "A.Millbourn & Co", and "British Handmade".

You can read a lot more about traditional paper sizes in our blog.

Stock is VERY limited - these are the only sheets that we will ever sell.