vellums
Ancient writing surfaces
Vellums is the plural of vellum, a fine parchment made from animal skin—traditionally calf, lamb, or kid.
Vellum was the standard writing surface for important documents before paper became widespread: The monastery's library held dozens of medieval vellums.
The term now also applies to high-quality paper that imitates the smooth, translucent quality of the original material.
Treated hide for manuscripts
- calfskinYoung cattle hide leather
- sheepskinOvine hide or diploma
- goatskinTanned caprine hide
- animal hideBeast's outer covering, removed
membrane · writing surface · leather · skin · untanned · lambskin · kidskin · rawhide
Made visible by light
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- codicesBound handwritten volumes
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
scrolls · monastic · palimpsest · folios · rubrics · gilded · incunabula · Book of Kells
Assembling pages into volumes
- lampshadesCoverings that soften illumination
- restorationReturning something to condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- gold leafUltra-thin decorative metal
letterpress · artists · drum making · printmaking · intaglio · etching · engraving · specialty paper
parchment
Treated hide for manuscripts
animal hide · membrane · writing surface · leather · skin · untanned · lambskin · kidskin · rawhide · drumhead
illuminated
Made visible by light
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- codicesBound handwritten volumes
- scriptoriumMonastery manuscript workshop
calligraphy · scrolls · monastic · palimpsest · folios · rubrics · gilded · incunabula · Book of Kells · Dead Sea
bookbinding
Assembling pages into volumes
- lampshadesCoverings that soften illumination
- restorationReturning something to condition
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
gold leaf · letterpress · artists · drum making · printmaking · intaglio · etching · engraving · specialty paper · archival
vellumspaper
Pressed pulp for writing
papyrus · digital media · newsprint · electronic documents · cardboard
vellumsnewsprint
Low-grade printing paper
scrap paper · scratch paper · copy paper · ephemera · tissue paper