CHAPTER VII
WRITING PAPERS
A large variety of papers falls under the heading of writing papers: account book, bank, bond, cheque, ledger, loan, and typewriter papers being placed in this category. The printer uses writing papers of all kinds, some as superior printings, and others he prepares as stationery, or prints some part of a document upon them for subsequent filling in or completion.
Writing papers must be smooth and hard-sized to fulfil their purpose of bearing writing ink, and other qualities will depend upon the use for which they are destined. The fibres used include rag, chemical wood, esparto, and in the poorest qualities, which but few printers or stationers will stock, mechanical wood. Writing papers of the highest class are all-rag, tub-sized, air-dried, and plate-glazed. Every variety of writing paper may be wove or laid without alteration in quality; in fact, most mills make woves and laids from the same stuff, merely changing the wove dandy roll to one which makes the laid marks on the paper. This first class of paper is used for the best stationery, for printed and written documents of the highest importance which are required to stand a good deal of handling, and for ledgers and similar books subject to hard wear. Bank-notes are printed on hand-made paper, while the papers for stamps, cheques, postal orders, and money orders are usually machine-made.
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