215 year old handmade linen rag British paper.

This beautiful paper is typical of its time - perfect for adding to a collection of for using in fine-art for writing, drawing and printmaking. 

HISTORY

This paper was handmade in Maistone, Kent at hte turn of the 19th century.

J Whatman were perhaps the most important papermakers in Europe, inventing wove paper and producing some of the finest sheets ever seen.

You can read a lot more about J Whatman and their history here. 

The Paper

There are three sheets available indentical except for the watermarks. The sheets are a typical colour for the era - a creamy natural white. 

Paper of this age is typically made from linen rag.

We do not know the specific history of these papers although it appears they have been removed from a binding - some of the edges show some less than perfect cutting marks meaning that they are not perfectly square edges. However this doesn't distract from the fact that this is very usable and beautuful paper.  

Interestingly this paper is from the same family as our lndmark Codex Binding made in 2022. You can read more about this here. 

Watermarks  

Sheet #1 - Shield

A fleur de lis within a shield with a crown atop,, all above a W monogram.

Sheet #2 - J Whatman & 1808 date

Sheet 3 - J Whatman & 1809

Dates in the watermark are typical of the time, a legal requirement at time for customs and excise purposes. 

Size

16½ x 10 inches, 420 x 260 mm

Condition

Showing signs of age. This paper was removed from a book, there are occasional cutting mark

Weight

Approximately 137 gsm, quality text weight. 

Surface

Laid