Archaeology of a Book: An experimental approach to reading rare books in archival contexts

Watermark

"A distinguishing mark, lettering, or design made in paper during manufacture and visible when the sheet is held up to light. Watermarks were used in Italy during the 13th century, being made from wire twisted into simple geometric shapes. While originally used as trade-marks, in the course of time they developed into designations of size, hence pott<\i> had a jug as a watermark, foolscape<\i> had a cap and bells, post<\i> had a post-horn, etc.

"In hand made paper the wire design is sewn or soldered to the mould on which the sheet is formed, causing the fibres [sic] to lie thinner where they touch it. Early watermarks were copied and many appear confusingly similar. In these instances the position of dots, occurring at each of many places where a thread of wire was used to fasten the watermark to the mesh, will assist in identifying sheets made in one mould" (Glaister 508).

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