James Whatman (papermaker)
Encyclopedia
James Whatman the Elder, was a paper maker
, born in Kent
, who made revolutionary advances to the craft in England. He is noted as the inventor of wove paper
(or Vélin), an innovation used for high quality art and printing. The techniques continued to be developed by his son, James Whatman the Younger (1741–1798), at a time when the craft was smaller paper mill
s to the large scale and widespread industrialisation of paper manufacturer.
Whatman had been approached by John Baskerville
, who needed paper that would take a light impression of the printing plate; this was used for the edition of Virgil
's poetry, embellished with Baskerville's typography and designs. The earliest examples of wove paper, bearing his watermark
is appeared after 1740.
Their business, in addition to producing the finest paper, is probably responsible for the invention of the wove wire mesh used to mold and align the pulp fibres. This is the principal method used in the mass production
of most modern paper. The Whatmans held a part interest in the establishment at Turkey Mill, near Maidstone, after 1740, this was acquired through the elder Whatman's marriage to Ann Harris.
The 'hand-made' paper bearing the Whatman's mark is still produced for special editions and art books.
Papermaking
Papermaking is the process of making paper, a substance which is used universally today for writing and packaging.In papermaking a dilute suspension of fibres in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibres is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibres by...
, born in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, who made revolutionary advances to the craft in England. He is noted as the inventor of wove paper
Wove paper
Wove paper is a writing paper with a uniform surface, not ribbed or watermarked.The papermaking mould's wires run parallel to each other to produce laid paper, but they are woven together into a fine wire mesh for wove paper...
(or Vélin), an innovation used for high quality art and printing. The techniques continued to be developed by his son, James Whatman the Younger (1741–1798), at a time when the craft was smaller paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s to the large scale and widespread industrialisation of paper manufacturer.
Whatman had been approached by John Baskerville
John Baskerville
John Baskerville was an English businessman, in areas including japanning and papier-mâché, but he is best remembered as a printer and typographer.-Life:...
, who needed paper that would take a light impression of the printing plate; this was used for the edition of Virgil
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
's poetry, embellished with Baskerville's typography and designs. The earliest examples of wove paper, bearing his watermark
Watermark
A watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
is appeared after 1740.
Their business, in addition to producing the finest paper, is probably responsible for the invention of the wove wire mesh used to mold and align the pulp fibres. This is the principal method used in the mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
of most modern paper. The Whatmans held a part interest in the establishment at Turkey Mill, near Maidstone, after 1740, this was acquired through the elder Whatman's marriage to Ann Harris.
The 'hand-made' paper bearing the Whatman's mark is still produced for special editions and art books.