HISTORY
The Taylors were an 18th century papermaking family based in and around around Kent, England.
Clement Taylor died in 1776 having worked Poll Mill, just upriver from Turkey Mill and Basted Mill where he apprenticed his sons John, James, George and Clement (jr).
After his death his sons took over the mills which included Basted, Poll, Upper Tolvil and Old Mill in Hollingbourne which was rented to him by Whatman.
The Paper - Taylor
These papers watermarked as 'Taylor' were made by brothers James and the troublesome George at Poll Mill, the mill worked by their father Clement until his death in 1776.
The GR watermark refers to King George III, George Rex (1738 - 1820). It was a watermark found in papers produced in this era to show that they were of a high enough quality for printing and publishing work.
The posthorn found in the watermark is one of the commonest watermarks and found across Europe since the 14th century. The pattern was presumably intended, at least in later examples, to evoke urgent postal delivery. In its manifestation as 'posthorn in crowned shield', it was a standard pattern (perhaps to donate a standardised size) in papers made in Britain or made elsewhere for the British market from the 17th century onwards.
The exact date of manufacture is unknown but we estimate it to have been produced somewhere after 1776 and into the 1790s.
Watermarks
Sheet #1 - Taylor
Sheet #2 - A crown atop a shield containing a posthorn with a GR monogram below.
Size
375 x 230 mm, 14 3/4 x 9 inches
Condition
Both papers are available in acceptable condition with occasional age related marks. The boundary edges have darkened uniformly through age.
Weight
Approximately 93 gsm
Surface
Laid (the laid lines are 1 inch apart)
