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Paper: Papyrus, Parchment & Vellum
PAPYRUS
Papyrus has played an important role in history. The oldest
written papyrus rolls date back 5000 years, and the word "paper" itself
is derived from the Greek and Latin words for papyrus.
The abundance and utility of papyrus on the lower Nile
made it an important
symbol in Egyptian architecture and religion, and the availability
of papyrus sheets for recording information was an important
asset to Egyptian rulers. It is clear, too, that without
papyrus the course of Mediterranean history and literature
would have
been vastly different.
The reed brush and papyrus were easy to use and accessible,
offering less incentive for the Egyptians to innovate in their
writing. In fact, the revolution represented by the Egyptian
use of (liquid) ink, pen and brush, and papyrus remains the basis
for handwritten communication even to this day. Consider the
felt-tip pen now used for some calligraphy is a little more than
an updated version of the reed pen.
To prepare papyrus to a sheet suitable for writing, the
smooth, triangular stalks of the plant are harvested and peeled,
and the pith was sliced and pounded together in strips. This
was followed by a second layer of pith placed perpendicular to
the first, pounded to make a flat sheet, then polished smooth
with a stone, bone, or shell or some other means.
PARCHMENT & VELLUM
The manufacture of parchment dates back to at least the
Middle Kingdom of Egypt, or approximately 2500 B.C.E. The
Egyptians used leather for their most important, valued
writing such as
temple rituals and royal archives. Parchment’s “manufacture” arrived
in Northwestern Europe along with Christianity, where it
became the most important writing material of the Middle
Ages. From
the 12th century onwards, however, its use slowly declined
in favor of paper. Its use today is limited, being restricted
largely
to state and legal documents, certificates, and in specific
religious roles.
True parchment is made from sheepskin. It is a translucent
or opaque material made from the wet, limed, and unhaired skins
of sheep, goats, or similar smaller animals, by drying at room
temperature under tension, generally on a wooden frame known
as a stretching frame. Wood is used because a frame of iron,
for example, is likely to cause blue iron stains which are difficult
to remove. Good parchment must be fine--that is, thin, strong,
yet flexible--and must have a smooth surface if it is to be used
for writing. Both sides may be used.
Vellum is made from calfskins and is prepared in generally
the same way true parchment. Parchment and vellum offer the advantage
of being usable on both sides (leather cannot). Although still
available today, parchment is very expensive. It continues to
play a role in Jewish ritual; a book of laws must be written
on skin and all synagogues have their parchment scrolls.
