Medieval Paper and the Unimportance of Being English.

This article explores the history of medieval paper in England, noting that most of it was imported and very little has survived. The introduction of paper in the early fourteenth century and the impact of printing at the end of the fifteenth century are discussed, highlighting how paper allowed more people to become writers and readers. The article also touches on the psychological impact of paper on the literary imagination and the ambivalence between paper and parchment as writing supports. The author's research is based on a systematic census of manuscripts in Cambridge University Library, but the lack of surviving archives in England poses a challenge. Another text discusses the formats and origins of medieval manuscripts, focusing on agenda or oblong formats found in Cambridge manuscripts. The author criticizes previous sources for their lack of information on formats and discusses the use of agenda formats in accountancy and music. The origins of medieval paper are briefly mentioned, with Italy dominating in the early fourteenth century and French papermakers gradually taking over. The importance of watermarks in determining the source of paper is emphasized, with examples provided from manuscripts in the Cambridge University Library. Another text discusses the author's analysis of watermarks found in manuscripts and their significance in determining the origin and age of the paper. Examples of different watermarks and their potential origins are given, such as Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland. The importance of paper evidence in studying the history of papermaking and its impact on the printing industry is also mentioned. The author points out some errors and inconsistencies in the book [Extracted from the article]