Re: Why 'Vellum' (was: Nice character chart source)

Randall Hunt wrote:

>
> Mr. Daniels wrote:
>
> >I've been searching for years for evidence about the origin of
> >parchment. Can you provide references?
>
> Do you trust the Encyclopedia Britannica?

Not particularly. I know how long ago some of the articles were written.
Micropaedia or Macropaedia? If the latter, what references does it
provide for the history of parchment?

> >> ...In 105 C.E., [Ts'ai Lun] introduced the Emperor to the
> >> practical art of papermaking...
> >
> >Once again, some evidence regarding the specific date would be
> >appreciated. It's unknown to Tsien, *Science and Civilization in China*,
> >vol. *Papermaking*.
>
> Dard Hunter is considered to be an expert on the subject. You might find it
> interesting to pick up a copy of his book, _Papermaking_.

That volume is some 50 years old -- I have the Dover reprint, of course.
Mr. Hunter did not read Chinese and could not study the relevant
materials. Tsien is the world's expert on the topic (his *Written on
Bamboo and Silk* [1961] has just been reissued by Chicago, I believe in
a revised edition, though I haven't seen it yet).

> >> Vellum [Latin VITULUS = calf] is a kind of parchment. Whereas parchment is
> >> made from split sheepskin and has no grain pattern, vellum is made of whole
> >> calfskin (or, less traditionally, from other animals) and has a grain
> >> pattern on the hair side.
> >
> >This distinction is based on the etymology of the word and is not how
> >"vellum" vs. "parchment" is used by craftsmen today.
>
> Just because many are content these days to think of vellum and parchment
> as varieties of paper, for instance, is no reason to discount traditional
> distinctions.

The distinction is not a traditional one. No one thinks of parchment, or
the fine parchment known as vellum, as "paper." It is not illegitimate,
though, to refer to "papyrus paper," as is sometimes seen.

(There is an unfortunate product called "parchment paper," sold to the
same people who think they can learn calligraphy from a kit. It is a
particularly poor quality paper that deteriorates especially quickly
because of the acids in it.)
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@...