1950. Process for Copying Very Old Writings

1950.    Process for Copying Very Old Writings. Niepec St. Victor gives a new process for copying very old writings. Ordinary copying paper is used, but is wetted with a thin solution of glucose or honey instead of water. On coming out of the press the paper is exposed to strong ammonia, which brings out very clearly lines otherwise almost illegible.

1951. To Prepare Paper for Varnishing

1951.    To Prepare Paper for Varnishing. To prevent the absorption of varnish, and injury to any color or design on the paper, it is necessary to first give it 2 or 3 coats of size. The best size for white or delicate colors is made by dissolving a little isinglass in boiling water, or by boiling some clean parchment cuttings until they form a clear so-lution; then strain through a piece of clean muslin. It may be applied with a clean soft paint-brush, the first coat, especially, very lightly. The best brush for this purpose is the kind used by varnishers for giving the finishing flow coats of varnish, wide, flat and soft; or, where there is much danger of injuring a design, and the paper article will allow of it, it is a good plan for the first coat, to pour the solution into a wide, flat dish, and pass the paper through it once, and back again, and then hang it up to dry. For less delicate purposes, a little light-colored glue, soaked over night in enough water to cover it, and then dissolved by heat, adding hot water enough to dilute it sufficiently, will make an excellent sizing.

1952. To Size Paper

1952.    To Size Paper. The paper must be passed or steeped in a mixture of glue and alum water. For transparent or semi-transparent paper, a mixture of starch, or dextrine and alum.

1953. Albuminous Size

1953.    Albuminous Size. Beat up the white of an egg with twice its bulk of cold water, until well incorporated. Used as a varnish for leather binding and kid gloves; also to size drawing paper.

1954. Pounce

1954.    Pounce. Powdered gum sanda-rac generally passes under this name; it is used to prepare parchment for writing on, and to prevent ink from spreading on paper after erasure. Powdered cuttle-fish bone is occasionally used in the same way. Packers rub the surface of porous and greasy wood with a pounce consisting of whiting or powdered resin, to make it bear the ink. The colored powders (usually ultramarine) used by pattern drawers, for sprinkling over pricked papers, are also called pounce.

1955. Lithographic Paper

1955.    Lithographic Paper. In order to prevent the ink tracings or design from adhering to and sinking into the paper, which would render a perfect transfer to the stone impossible, the surface of the paper requires proper preparation.

1956. To Prepare Lithographic Paper

1956.    To Prepare Lithographic Paper. Lay on the paper 3 successive coats of sheep-foot jelly, 1 layer of cold white starch, and 1 layer of gamboge. The first layer is applied with a sponge dipped in a hot solution of the jelly, thinly, but very evenly, over the whole surface; the next 2 coats are laid on in succession, each previous coat being first allowed to dry. The layer of starch, and then the coat of gamboge, are each applied with a sponge in the same way as the jelly. When the paper is dry it must be smoothed by passing it through the lithographic press; the smoother it becomes, the better. The transfer of traces from the gamboge surface of paper thus prepared is perfect.

The gamboge must be dissolved the same day it is used, as it becomes oily by standing. The starch should be a day old, and the skin removed from its surface.