OCR Text |
Show 20 £ e PAPERMAKING Afier working for a number of years with European and Oricatal handmade papers and developing a genuine affection for rhcm it was my desire to know exactly how this type of paper wa and to discover what consituted the elusive fatures dhac e nated me to such an extent, so I journeyed to Europe with th express purpose of acquiring a knowledgeof the craf. This wa about twenty-five years ago, and it will not hc nece: y to ente into a relation of the nyriad difficulties encountered. Most of th European masters were exceedingly considerate, and T am proI'mm("v grateful to them for their many kindnesses, both at th time of my first visit and through the years that have followed. was Lhrough the courtesies of the English and continental of handmade paper that my initial knowledge of the art as it i practiced in modern times was acquired With a little knowledge of the making of handmade paper i modern times came a desire to know how paper had been fibricated in the past, and to learn something of the traditions nd history of his ancient and nobl There was, at that time, littl id routine of modern equipment, production, and selling,- the h torical and romantic side of this handicraft, extending over a period of almost two thousand years, had apparently not caught th imagination of those engaged in the making of paper, cither b y millowners, in both Europe and America, absolutely devoid of bibliographical material relating to the history of the industry to which they were devoting their lives. I knew that ther must be many books and pamphlets on the subject of old watermarks and papermaking, as T had myself for years, in a modes way be n collecting volumes relating to printing and type founding, sub]g(u that had not been neglected, many acdent and persistent collectors gathering in every a e old typographi Digital Imag © 2004 University of Utah. All rights reserved |