Paper Stocks in Western Medieval Manuscripts : Paper stock

Paper Stocks in Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>A fragment of a copy of the year book for 3 Henry IV (1401-2), from the library of Anthony Gell (d. 1583), of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire, and bencher of the Inner Temple (CELM, p. 644).</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The year book is written on one paper stock throughout (ff. 1-6). Each folio measures approximately 300 mm in height x 210 mm in width, and the sheets are folded in folio. This suggests that the original sheets had dimensions ranging between 300-315 mm in height x 420-460 mm in width, a format of paper known as Chancery, which was the most common size of paper in medieval England. The range of measurements depends on the precise dimensions of the original sheets before folding and the trimming of the folio before binding.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The paper stock is marked by a helmet, not attested on <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='https://memoryofpaper.eu/BernsteinPortal/appl_start.disp#'>Bernstein</a>. A remarkably similar tracing of this helmet is also included in a document held amongst the papers of John Fenn, in which it is indicated that it comes from a draft of Sir John Falstoff’s will 3 November 1459 (Norfolk Record Office, MC 525/2/2). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>These images have been produced through MSI in order to capture physical details of the item.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Orietta Da Rold and Logan Rivers</p>