From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V4 #87 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Friday, November 24 2000 Volume 04 : Number 087 ======================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with unsubscribe scribes-digets in the body of the message. Leave the subject line blank. Do not include any additional text. Re: [scribes]: vellum preparation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 10:34:44 -0500 (EST) From: john j cash Subject: Re: [scribes]: vellum preparation Dear Lady Julian, > 1) How should I prepare the vellum? I know nothing about it except that my > Laurel thought it was cool, and the merchant is apparently one that supplies > to scribes on a regular basis. Vellum can get oily. The natural oils left in the skin after preparation can emerge over time. It won't get slick, but it can get difficult to write on. If it's been sitting for more than a month or so, you might want to pounce it. I believe that refers to rubbing chalk over the surface and then erasing the chalk, which will remove the excess oils. Easy strokes while applying the chalk and erasing it should do it. > 2) Any cautions or comments on walnut ink? Does it give good coverage, bleed > badly, etc.? Anyone know about when it would have come into use or some good > sources on it? Some inks act on vellum as dyes act on leather. They may go on light, but the chemicals will act to dye the skin darker. Though walnut ink is beyond my experience, I'd bet it will act to dye the vellum. I'd try it out on some samples to get an idea of how it will flow. > 3) Suggestions for a good period script for 10th C. Byzantium? I have the > Drogin book, so I can find what was period time-wise, but i'm not sure what > would have been in common use in that location. I'm no more an expert on Byzatine hands than I am on walnut ink. But, consider that Byzantium in the 10th century stretched from the Balkans to Armenia, and you get an idea of the range of options you have. Early in my study of calligraphy I looked at some books on Armenian manuscripts, and some Russian manuscripts, and based on that I'd hazard these guesses. First, the informal Greek hands tend to be wide and short, like Carolongian minuscule, rather than tall and narrow like Gothic hands. And they're done with a fine point and not a broad nib. They felt very relaxing to read and to copy. The more formal hands resemble Uncials: round and even, done with a broad nib; used for initial letters. The very formal, ornate stuff is tall and narrow and appears in "head-pieces" at the start of a chapter. It is done in a broad nib and often in red or gold, and is illegible to my eye (that's a feat). I'm afraid I can offer no bibliography. As to style: If you want to go with Greek, that's the way. If you want to go with English done in a Greek pseudo-script, a round Uncial will offer the best resemblance. - -- johannes v.n. YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK - -- from an errata sheet correcting the U. S. Department of State report, "Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1999": "On page 81, in the description of the ELN, the phrase "by Jesuit priests inspired by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara" should be deleted...The Department of State regrets these errors." =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V4 #87 ****************************