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Bibliography and Modern Book Production Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2025
“Sweet ladies pray be not offended, Nor mind the jest of sneering wags; No harm, believe us, is intended, When humbly, we request your rags”
Paper Chronology
Invented in China 103 A.D. (see foot-note (1) on p.138) After the Mohammedan victory over the Chinese 655 paper was manufactured in Samarkand, Damascus, and towns in North Africa, whence it followed the Moors’ conquest of Spain about 1050.
1150. First paper-mill in Europe, Xativa, Spain, started. The Stamping mill was invented here.
In 1221 the use of paper for public documents was already resisted because of its perishability.
After the fall of the Moors paper was manufactured primarily in Italy.
1270 Paper-mill in Fabriano.
The oldest paper manufacturers used starch for sizing but from about 1270 the Italian mills used animal glue.
1282. The first watermark was made in Italy.
1389. Paper was fabricated by Stromer in Nuremberg.
1490 by John Tate, Hertfordshire.
1495 Wynkyn de Worde, successor to Caxton, printed De Proprietatibus Rerum, the first book printed on English-made paper.
1700 (?) The “Hollander” displaced the stampers formerly used.
1719 Wood and the Wasp. (Réaumur).
1750(?) Baskerville invented “wove” paper and 1758 used it for an edition of Virgil.
1765 Common vegetables, weeds, and woods were used by J.C. Schäffer in papermaking.
1774 Bleaching (following the discovery by Scheele of chloride).
1798 Louis Robert invented the paper machine later called the Fourdrinier.
1806 Engine sizing (with resin) invented by Illig.
1826 Dandy roll used first (in London). Invented between 1825–30 at the firm of T.A. & C.D. Marshall.
1844 Mechanized pulp method invented.
1851 Esparto paper fabricated and shown at the Great Exhibition. Commercialized 1857.
1854 Chemical wood pulp invented.
1890 Coated papers first made.
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