In Part I of this article, we discussed the forensics of book structure, paper types and how to spot various restoration and repair techniques when authenticating an ancient book. In this article, we step into the world within the paper itself, identifying the craftsman’s watermarks in the pages of my copy of Lane’s Reports, and attempting to “fingerprint” the sheets within that book to the specific screen mould each sheet was produced from. I believe it possible to extend this analysis to “reverse engineer” the original screen moulds used to make each sheet of paper within my book… (more…)
Category: Early publishing and London’s Fleet Street
Background information on 1600’s publishing and London’s Fleet Street publishing houses
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“Da Vinci Code” Style Forensics: Symbols and Secrets Lurking Within the Pages of an Ancient Law Book (Part I)
The invention of the printing press in the middle 1400’s may have “unlocked the door” to the information age, but it was decidedly NOT flung open. It required the long, slow process of building the components of the publishing industry and markets to pry that lumbering retardment from its casings! (more…)
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