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Show 2 OLD~PAPERMAKIN more water which formed in drops upon the edge of the sheets, The paper was then taken from th press and a workser separated the sheets and place them in a different rotation, pressing them again This exchanging was repeated until the Ppaper acquired the desired smoothness of surface The roughness of much of the paper previous t the sixteenth century would indicate that this ex anging or parting was not in practice before tha time; the paper having received no finishing afte being taken from the felting. In an examination o old papers, especially Italian and Dutch, it will b noticed that much of it still retains impressions lef by the material upon which it had been couched The early American papermakers did not devot much time or labour to the exchanging, althoug this procedure was, and still is, the secret of givin to handmade paper a beautiful finish and texture The next stepin the process of making paper b hand, was drying. The paper was taken from th pile, after the last pressing, in "spurs" of four or fiv sheets as the paper in this moist state adhered to gether. Had the sheets been dried separately the would have wrinkled, but when taken in spur the paper dried smoothly and without much curl ing. The drying-lofts of the old mills were situate in the top storeys of the buildings where a curren of air could reach every side. The walls of thes lofts were fitted with sliding shutters which eithe Digital image© 2004 Mariot Libary, Universty o Utah. Al right reserved |