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{Hoping this is an acceptable area to post this} For those in range of a PBS station, I hope you caught the second part of Nova's "A to Z" two part series yesterday. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/series/a-to-z/ (If you missed it -- it might stream from that link). There were some interesting points... Like papyrus/reed-pen combination allowed for fairly rapid writing, so Rome had a high degree of scrolls available via libraries. But after the empire fell apart, lost ready access to papyrus. Parchment making was slow and costly (equivalent of four large pages per hide), AND required such a slow hand to write that scribes would be lucky to get two pages copied out per day! And the cost of having a scribe spend a year on a book was equivalent to buying a small home.

I have to perform an unusual task - I have to update some texts on an ancient parchment book. I will see the book (an ancient church journal, informal enough but 5 centuries old) in a few days. For more important documents on other more important and precious books a calligrapher is hired but this is a 'modest' journal and traditionally must be updated by a member of the congregation so the professionals are out of the question. I was asked to write on it as the old guys are no longer confident about this and they need someone with a firmer hand (the fools ). Too much time passed since the last time and they cannot remember which ink was used the last time, but it was something tragically normal and commercially available. I will use a modern FP (a Pelikan or a Montblanc or a Lamy, as for the latter I have calligraphy nibs if needed, I will see ) and I have some modern inks (Pilot, Diamine, Aurora, Pelikan, Montblanc) but I need something with good permanence (the book is centuries old and in excellent condition for its age and maybe good for another half millennia - I find this a little discomforting) but I was planning to use DIamine Registrar's as an ink with the correct combination of colour, permanence and good behaviour - all this in theory. I never used this ink on real parchment, only on modern papers. Any previous experience? Any suggestion? Thanks for any idea/exchange of experience on this unusual topic.

I am looking into some nice parchment paper to write all my letters on this holiday season. I came across this paper from amazon: Southworth Parchment Specialty Paper, 8.5 x 11 inches, 24 lb, Copper http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013CKJ7S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3C0K7J9MKFJSK&coliid=I2MVPM6RABLURW&psc=1 It is $24 for a box of 500 sheets which works out to just under 5 cents a sheet. A great deal! I have read a few reviews here and there about Soutworth paper in general and some were mixed, some were high. But I couldn't find any specific thread on the Southworth parchment paper. I was wondering if anyone has tried this paper? What do you think about it? Is it fp friendly? Has anyone seen the copper color in person? How would you describe it? I am hoping it isn't too yellow (like the gold appears) but still has a nice neutral old world look. Also, I was hoping there might be a generous individual who could send me a sheet (or even half a sheet) to test out? I have a few different papers I would be willing to send to you to try in exchange. I always prefer to try a product before I buy it. Especially within this hobby - it can be hit or miss sometimes; it is always better for me to test it out first hand to see if it meets my expectations. I am sure many of you know exactly what I mean! Thank you to anyone who has any information that they can share with me! I am so blessed to be a part of this community!!! http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61FZRSr%2BlbL._SL1001_.jpg

I am having some trouble now that I have a few pens and ink samples......i need paper! I found some SouthWorth 24lb 100% cotton resume paper that I like although a bit rougher than I care for. I would like some suggestions on hardback journals with a paper that is thick but not overly"textured" if that's the right word. Also would like some suggestions on any parchment papers you may know of. If this isn't the right subforum I do apologize

Hello friends. I saw this paper at a local store this week when I went to buy Vergé de France. I chose the Vergé since I had been attached to the prospect of getting it for some time now, but it was interesting to see an alternative. For many people, the appeal of getting the Vergé in champagne or ivory is to reproduce a vintage look, but I suppose the parchment-style paper takes that a step further. It's extremely pricey at $15 for 20 sheets, but the number of sheets may not be an obstacle depending on the scope of one's project(s). Since I haven't opened the Vergé yet, I could exchange it next week if needed. I'd just like to know if anyone has used it and has any opinions on quality, FP-friendliness (though I don't imagine this would be an issue), watermarking, the feel of the paper, etc. The latter is one of the reasons that I opted to stick with the Vergé, since I thought the extra 20 gsm of the Parchemin or some part of the manufacturing process could make it feel card stock-ish or more suitable for business or institutional use somehow. I wouldn't want to write a personal letter that looks and feels like a diploma or a fancy dinner menu. Thanks. http://www.g-lalo.fr/20-feuilles-A4-parchemin-120g--Ref-42816L.html

Hello, I've always toyed with the idea of illuminate some of my works but never give it a try until yesterday when I say a YouTube video [1] quite funny which shown a fast-timed "see how easy is" decoration on manuscript illumination and, hence, I had to try it. I wanted to send something different to a friend in Turkey. So, I gave it a try and were 4 hours on it. Here's the result of all-first-time: first drafts [from video showcase], inked with iron gall ink using Esterbrook 355 over them, pseudo-gothic letters... invented as go [first time with an stiff nib... painful], watercolored except gold [ink] and capital letters' silvered [ink], first time writing in arabic [bismillah... sorry if it says otherwise... I really tried but it's strange], etc. all in crappy (truly, crappy) cheaper-impossible paper but surprisingly it holded the gall ink and the watercolors perfectly without traspassing it... Oh, almost forgot, the paper size: an A5 (half A4). Click HERE to see it at 600dpi (~3400x5000px, 1.49MB, JPEG) Just a final note: as it was all over a draft, I didn't try to keep lines horizontal, spacing and other issues. After all, it all begin with a pencil and was meant to be nothing else, but who can resist retouching this and that? http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/541/m1r7.jpg I hope you found it interesting, at least. Sincerely, Franz