الكاغد الطلحي (Talhi Paper)

Ingredients

قنب (Hemp), جير (Lime), ماء عذب (Fresh water), دقيق (Flour), نشا (Starch), زعفران (Saffron - for tinting)

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Good white hemp is cleaned and combed until soft. It is soaked in lime for one night, then rubbed by hand and dried in the sun. It is returned to fresh lime water the next night, repeating this for 3 to 7 days until it becomes extremely white. The hemp is then cut into small pieces and soaked in fresh water, which is changed daily until the lime is removed. It is then beaten in a mortar until it becomes a paste like silk. The paste is poured into molds. After drying on a wall, it is sized with a mixture of fine flour, starch, and water that has been boiled and filtered. The paper is then polished using a glass burnisher (p. 147-149).

Evidence

"صفة عمل الكاغد الطلحي : تأخذ القنب الجيد الأبيض فنقيه من قصبه وتبله وتسرحه بمشط حتى يلين ، ثم تأخذ الجير فتنقعه فيه ليلة إلى الصباح ، ثم تمركه باليد وتبسطه في الشمس نهارك كله حتى يجف"

Remarks

The 'Talhi' paper recipe (named after Talha b. Tahir) emphasizes the use of lime for whitening and hemp as the primary fiber source. Sizing (sqi) with starch and flour is a critical step to prevent ink feathering (p. 148). The text also mentions coloring the paper with saffron (p. 149).