The pages of most books were of mottled parchment, that is, dried sheepskin, which was universally available and nowhere more abundant than in Ireland, whose bright green fields still host each April an explosion of new white lambs. Vellum, or calfskin, which was more uniformly white when dried, was used more sparingly for the most honored texts. (The “white Gospel page” of “The Hermit’s Song” is undoubtedly vellum.) It is interesting to consider that the shape of the modern book, taller than wide, was determined by the dimensions of a sheepskin, which could most economically be cut into double pages that yield our modern book shape when folded. The scribe transcribed the text onto pages gathered into a booklet called a quire, later stitched with other quires into a larger volume, which was then sometimes bound between protecting covers. Books and pamphlets of less consequence were often left unbound. Thus, a form of the “cheap paperback” was known even in the fifth century. - Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization
I did not know that! Loved learning about the origin of the modern shape of books, thank you for sharing the words!
I ran to search for images of mottled parchment. I found this image of a parchment hole that was repaired using embroidery in medieval times. We used to take care of things and fix them when damaged. We used to look around and not see waste, but resource. Parchment books might have to be a future project!!!
I can’t imagine the work it would take! But after all the work it would sure become something to care for and mend for years and years to come.
The pages of most books were of mottled parchment, that is, dried sheepskin, which was universally available and nowhere more abundant than in Ireland, whose bright green fields still host each April an explosion of new white lambs. Vellum, or calfskin, which was more uniformly white when dried, was used more sparingly for the most honored texts. (The “white Gospel page” of “The Hermit’s Song” is undoubtedly vellum.) It is interesting to consider that the shape of the modern book, taller than wide, was determined by the dimensions of a sheepskin, which could most economically be cut into double pages that yield our modern book shape when folded. The scribe transcribed the text onto pages gathered into a booklet called a quire, later stitched with other quires into a larger volume, which was then sometimes bound between protecting covers. Books and pamphlets of less consequence were often left unbound. Thus, a form of the “cheap paperback” was known even in the fifth century. - Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization
I did not know that! Loved learning about the origin of the modern shape of books, thank you for sharing the words!
I ran to search for images of mottled parchment. I found this image of a parchment hole that was repaired using embroidery in medieval times. We used to take care of things and fix them when damaged. We used to look around and not see waste, but resource. Parchment books might have to be a future project!!!
I can’t imagine the work it would take! But after all the work it would sure become something to care for and mend for years and years to come.