Mansuri
Tunisia
11th Century
Source: Levey, M. (1962). Mediaeval Arab Bookmaking. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 1-79.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
Egyptian paper, starch paste
Preparation Steps
To manufacture cover boards (pasteboard), a leaf of paper is smeared with starch paste. A second leaf is placed on top and pressed with the palms to remove wrinkles. This is repeated, adding leaves in pairs (face to face) until the desired thickness is reached—usually five, six, or seven leaves (p. 51). The boards are then dried in a warm place free of dust, and eventually placed in a press to squeeze out excess moisture and paste (p. 51).
Original Recipe Text
To manufacture cover boards (pasteboard), a leaf of paper is smeared with starch paste. A second leaf is placed on top and pressed with the palms to remove wrinkles. This is repeated, adding leaves in pairs (face to face) until the desired thickness is reached—usually five, six, or seven leaves (p. 51). The boards are then dried in a warm place free of dust, and eventually placed in a press to squeeze out excess moisture and paste (p. 51).
Evidence
"Bosch, G. K... refers to al-Jawhair who states that Mansuarl is an Egyptian paper of large size having polished surfaces... To make it [cover board], you take a leaf of paper and smear it with starch paste."
Remarks
The text identifies 'Mansuri' as a large-sized Egyptian paper with polished surfaces (p. 41, note 294). The manufacturing of boards requires careful pressing to ensure the 'side appears like a glass mirror' after being covered with leather (p. 51).
Scientific Analysis
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
paper
BinderStarch
Paper TypeMansuri
ColorWhite
RegionTunisia
Approx. Year1050
Source Information
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