pasteboard-msg - 6/10/99
Period pasteboard. cardboard. ItŐs uses and construction.
NOTE: See also the files: papermaking-msg, parchment-msg, gold-leaf-msg, early-books-msg, paper-msg, sealing-wax-msg.
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Date: Wed, 02 Jun 1999 18:53:33 -0700
From: Edwin Hewitt <brogoose at pe.net>
To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: Pasteboard
SNSpies at aol.com wrote:
> There is a pack of Tarot cards in The Cloisters collection in New York City
> that is made of pasteboard. Does anyone have any information on the history
> of pasteboard or know where I might start looking? Thank you.
>
> Nancy (Ingvild)
Apparently pasteboard is period. I have been reading Cervantes, "Don Quijote,"
(circa 1600) and the good knight fashions a visor for his morion using paste
board. This hints that it is of some age. I was happy to read this because it
means that some "paper mache'" work is within a hair's breadth of being
documented. I still can't prove it though. I am guessing that paste board was
made up of shreaded fabric and/or fibers with a paste binder. Again, I have yet
to find proof.
--
Edwin
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 13:19:20 -0400
From: "Gray, Heather" <Heather at Quodata.Com>
To: "'sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu'" <sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu>
Subject: RE: Pasteboard
For a short history/description, plus biblio (click on the footnote
numbers), check out one of my favorite online resources (Etherington &
Roberts): http://sul-server-2.stanford.edu/don/dt/dt2500.html
This is a page from a dictionary on bookbinding and book conservation, so
the description addresses the general availability of pasteboard and the
specifics as concerns its use in books.
A very short history of paper: http://www.copacel.fr/anglais.htm
Another short history: http://www.mead.com/paper/history/index.html
The biblio at the first site will probably be of the most use to you, but a
search in the library for books on the history of papermaking should also
bring up more information on this subject. Unfortunately I found it
difficult to find much on the web because 'pasteboard' is in current use for
something to do with Adobe and QuarkExpress.
Elwynne
Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 00:51:45 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Jack C. Thompson" <tcl at teleport.com>
To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: pasteboard
Pasteboard is a form of early cardboard, without the flutes seen
in modern cardboard. In a way, it has much in common with paper
mache, or cartonnage, layers of Egyptian papryri pasted together
over the linen wrapped mummy.
By the time of Gutenberg (15th c.) enough old paper was laying around
that sheets of paper were pasted together (generally with cooked flour
paste) until the desired thickness was attained.
Printed books (on paper) did not require wooden boards, as books
written on parchment required, because fore edge clasps were not
required to hold the book closed.
It is not uncommon to find binders board after the 15th/16th centuries
which is made of sheets of printed paper pasted together.
Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Laboratory
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, OR 97217
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1999 04:00:24 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Jack C. Thompson" <tcl at teleport.com>
To: sca-arts at raven.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: pasteboard
><< By the time of Gutenberg (15th c.) enough old paper was laying around
> that sheets of paper were pasted together (generally with cooked flour
> paste) until the desired thickness was attained. >>
>
>Ah! Thanks, Jack. Do you have a reference for this information? That would
>be great.
>
>Nancy (Ingvild)
It took me a moment to think about a source; I've known this for so long
that I don't have to think about it anymore.
Check Bernard Middleton's _The Restoration of Leather Bindings_ pub. 1972,
by the Library Technology Program/American Library Assoc., Chicago.
On p. 31 "Definition of terms:" 'Pasteboard. In popular use, a term often
applied to any stiff board of medium thickness. It originally meant boards
formed by laminating or pasting together a number of sheets of waste paper.'
I have a set of such boards in my collection. One of these days I may toss
one of them into the bath to see which book is represented.
Jack C. Thompson
Thompson Conservation Laboratory
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, OR 97217
<the end>