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Show 8 OLD~PAPERMAKIN fields, furnished little of an artistic or interestin nature to the watermarlk history of America, an the few early marks that are recorded from tha locality consist chiefly of names and initials of th papermalers, which have no special appeal to th imagination The first paper mill in the Colonies was established in Pennsylvania by William Rittenhouse anative of Holland, who was assisted by Willia Bradford, the first printer in Pennsylvania an New Yorlk, and two other worthies. The papermaking moulds that were used by this mill,in al probability had been brought from Holland an no doubt they had been left plain, without water marlks. The first mark to be found in Rittenhous paper is the single word "Company" designatin the original partnership and judging from itscrudity it was made by untrained hands; probabl having been fashioned by one of the mill workmen unaccustomed to working in wire, Thismarl was in use from about 1690, when the mill wa established, until sometime during the year 170 when Bradford was induced to part with his shar in the paper mill. In 1706 the property wasin ful possession of Rittenhouse he second papermark to be adopted by thi pioneer mill was the monogram, W R, the initial of the principle founder on one half of the shee of paper, and on the other half appeared a clover Diital image© 2004 Marriot Libary, University of Utah. Al ighs reserved |