VMs: Counting sheep...?

[knoxmix@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hello all,

I intended to find and post the source of the statement in my 
previous post so I did a Google search. I have not found that 
particular site but using the term "vellum hair" appears to turn up 
more informative sites than "vellum" alone. Here are some items for 
those who do not care to pursue it further. 

As a rule, vellum is made from the entire skin, not split as is 
parchment made from sheepskin. Vellum is also made from goat, lamb, 
and deerskin, and can usually be distinguished from parchment by the 
grain and hair marks producing a somewhat irregular surface.
http://www.cbbag.ca/BookArtsWeb/Vellum.html

Why is it so expensive?
Animal skin parchment is laborious to make. Therefore, like any 
handmade technique, it tends to be pricey. Thankfully there are 
craftsmen who continue making parchment, as it is widely regarded as 
an incomparable medium for calligraphy and illumination and fine 
artwork.
http://www.usartquest.com/products/project/parchment-faqs.html

All 'vellum' sold and used in the craft market today is paper. It 
isn't real vellum. When speaking of parchment and real vellum, the 
two terms appear to be used interchangeably.
http://www.usartquest.com/products/project/parchment-faqs.html

There is some confusion in relation to the use of the terms parchment 
and vellum. Some authorities claim that parchment is derived from the 
skin of sheep or goats while vellum comes from calves. The term 
vellum is also used specifically for skin which has been abraded with 
pumice, a procedure more likely to have been used on the thicker calf 
skin to stretch and soften it further. However, the terms are also 
used interchangeably and some libraries use the term parchment in 
their catalogues for all their skin based writing membranes; others 
use vellum. In the light of a general lack of agreement, you may 
please yourself.
http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/tools/parchment.htm

Ciao .......... Knox

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