HAND-MADE PAPER 289
Mounts and Covers.—Half the battle, when one wants to display a good
picture, is to have a suitable background, and there is nothing to equal a good
hand-made mount, which can be obtained in white and almost any shade of
colour, even to black.
Vellum Papers.—The amazingly strong imitation parchment papers made
by hand are equal to and in some ways superior to real parchment. They are
practically indestructible, and they are not so easily affected by heat, mildew,
or insects as are skin parchments.
Filter-papers for the most delicate chemical analysis are almost invariably
made by hand, and they are the most reliable, the amount of ash in some of
the chemically treated 'ashless' papers being practically nil.
Notepapers and Envelopes.—There is something distinguished-looking and
'good' about hand-made notepaper which cannot be imitated by any of the
machine-made varieties. A box of good hand-made paper is actually much
cheaper than many of the gaudy cabinets and compendiums of inferior engine-
sized notepapers which are to be seen in all stationers' shops, and which seem
to have a ready sale.
Ledger Papers.—For ledgers and account books, which have to be durable
and stand a lot of hard usage and fingering, there is nothing to equal the blue-
laid English hand-made papers.
Printing Papers.—For cosdy editions of valuable books, and for editions de
luxe, hand-made printings are still in good demand, and they give an added
charm to the volume when combined with good and tasteful printing.
A hand-made paper-maker is a craftsman who has served at least seven
years of apprenticeship before he gets his 'Card of Freedom', and until he
obtains this card, which may only be awarded him by the Society, he is not
allowed to be employed in the making of hand-made paper. The result is
that after many years of tuition there exists a body of workmen called cThe
Original Society', who are highly trained and who enjoy a freedom not possessed
by any other organization of workmen.
It is interesting in this connection to note that membership of the Society
can be traced from generation to generation, son following father in unbroken
succession, and several of the fifth generation are employed in the hand-made
mills to-day. The same holds good of the employers also.
[We are indebted for much of the above information, and also for the blocks
of the illustrations, to Messrs. J. Barcham Green, hand-made paper-makers,
Hayle Mill, Maidstone.j