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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kentworld, post: 12261529, member: 35&quot;]That is a cool map!&nbsp; Google AI info: </p><p>Seventeenth-century paper was a handmade, plant-based material primarily composed of fermented linen and cotton rags. To create a durable surface for writing with quill and ink, makers applied an animal gelatin size. A key compositional shift occurred in the mid-1600s with the widespread addition of alum.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]553062[/ATTACH]American Institute for Conservation +4</p><p>Seventeenth-century paper differs greatly from modern, wood-pulp-based paper. The primary components of historical rag paper included:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]553063[/ATTACH]Conservatree.org</p><ul> <li>Fibers: The base material consisted of cellulose fibers sourced from discarded linen, hemp, and cotton textiles. Coarser plant fibers and straw were sometimes added for lower-quality or brown paper.</li> <li>Sizing Agent: Animal hide glue (gelatin) was used to coat the sheets. This prevented writing inks from bleeding into the fibrous paper.</li> <li>Chemical Additives: A major 17th-century innovation was the introduction of alum (potassium aluminum sulfate). Papermakers added it to the gelatin size to harden it and prevent the glue from putrefying.</li> <li>Bleaching Agents: Because advanced chemical bleaches were unavailable, makers relied on pure water and prolonged sun-bleaching of the raw textile fibers.<br /> [ATTACH=full]553065[/ATTACH]UCSB English Broadside Ballad Archive +6</li> </ul><p>Historical Impact</p><p>The introduction of alum improved production efficiency and mold resistance. However, it dramatically increased the acidity of the paper. This acidity contributes heavily to the &quot;slow fires&quot; and brittle, yellowed condition of many surviving 17th-century texts.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]553064[/ATTACH]American Institute for Conservation +2[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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