_Parchment_ (sheep-skin), as supplied by law-stationers, though rather hard, still retains the character of a skin, and is in every way preferable to the Vellum[33] which is specially prepared for illuminators. A piece of parchment about 26 inches by 22 inches costs about 2s. 6d. Lambskin is still better.
"_Roman Vellum_" is a fine quality of sheep or [p174] _"lamb" skin_, made in imitation of the Vellum used in the Vatican.
The surface of a modern skin may be greatly improved by "_pouncing_" but there seems to be a danger of its becoming rough or porous.
_Pounce._--Fine _powdered pumice_ (as supplied by drysalters) is very good. It is rubbed on with the hand (p. 167), or with a pad or a piece of rag. Law-stationers use a pounce in which the main constituents are chalk (or "whiting") and powdered resin. The latter, when used before gilding, is apt to make the gold-leaf stick to the surrounding parchment. (_Before Writing_, see Note 7, p. 359.)
_Chalk_, "_Whiting_" "_French Chalk_," and _Powdered Cuttlefish Bone_ might be used as substitutes for pumice, or as ingredients in preparing a pounce. _Sandarach_ (a resin) rubbed on an erasure appears to prevent ink spreading when the surface is written over.
A skin of parchment has a smooth (whiter) side--the original flesh side--and a rougher, yellower side--the original hair side. The penman will find the _smooth_ side preferable for writing on (though, of course, both sides must be used in a book: see p. 110). This side is more easily damaged, and erasures have to be very carefully made with a _sharp_ knife, or by gentle rubbing with indiarubber. On the rough side, erasures cause little or no damage to the surface. A piece of rubber--or a paper stump--dipped in pounce may be used. It is better--as it is more straightforward--to avoid erasures if possible, and to correct mistakes frankly, as in ordinary writing (see p. 344).
For ordinary purposes parchment should be cut to the size desired, and be held on the desk by the [p175] tape, guard, &c. (see p. 50). It is generally a mistake to pin it down, or to damp and stretch it on the drawing-board (see p. 356).
_Parchment is stained a fine purple_ with "Brazil-wood": this may be obtained from a "store chemist." Three teacups full of Brazil-wood are stewed in about two pints of water, with two teaspoonsful of alum (which acts as a mordant). The colour of this liquid is brownish-red, and to make it purple, carbonate of potash is added (_very carefully_, or it will become too blue). The liquid is poured into a tray, and the parchment skin is placed in it for half a day or a couple of days. The colour dries lighter, so it should be prepared rather dark, and diluted if necessary: strips of parchment should be used to test it; they are taken out and dried at the fire.