Bible Paper / India Paper?

[jrm27]

Hello all,

 

I'm finding that I really enjoy writing on thin paper. I like journals that I use to lay flat and as I'm experimenting with making my own journals, I'm trying to find great thin paper. I've read nothing but great stuff about the Tomoe (Tamoe?) River Paper and would like to get my hands on some. However, I was wondering about the type of paper that they generally use to print Bibles or dictionaries on. That paper seems very thin, but also takes to a pen well. I've been using my fountainpens in my Bible with little problem for the past few months. Does anyone know what kind of paper Bible publishers generally use? I found a reference online to "India paper" which sounds like it might be similar... but I'm not quite sure. Any ideas on this stuff? Thanks!

 

-jon

[MKeith]

Here's a great site to peruse Bible papers and more.

 

http://www.bibledesignblog.com/2008/12/bleeding-through-the-sorry-state-of-bible-paper.html

[mhguda]

For a really thin paper, I use tracer paper. Trouble with that is, you can only use one side, and you will still have show-through. Although I've tested it and find it acceptable for my personal use. This is tracer paper for artists' use. I have not been doing this for long, but so far, I like it. It's fantastic paper for fountain pens, all my combinations of pen and ink have worked well on it, and to write, I find it even nicer than Tomoe River. And it's much less expensive; I get a pad of 100 sheets for about the equivalent of $5 at a local wholesale store, or a little more expensive at an office supply/hobby shop that's closer to my home.

And if you can find (old) airmail correspondence paper, those are nice too. But they are hard to find these days.

[penhand]

You could also try onions skin paper. It pops up on the classifieds and eBay pretty regularly. I have some Tomoe River listed on the classifieds right now ( both white and cream).

[DanielCoffey]

See if any of your local stockists have "Bank Paper". It will be around 45gsm / 16lbs and was typically used for making good carbon copies on impact printers.

 

In the EU it is readily available in A4 reams for about £6 including tax and shipping and one variety called "Q Connect Bank Paper" has been reviewed HERE.

 

EDIT : I was thinking... if you find that a particular type of bible paper works well with your pen and inks, why not ask your local Church group where they got theirs from? Some Church groups like getting their own prayer books printed up in a smaller publisher and they will already know what paper they have specified. Maybe you can buy some blank books? Or the paper itself?

Edited February 3, 2013 by DanielCoffey

[scribble1]

Allans in the UK are a company that publish bibles. They also produce journals using the same paper.

 

www.bibles-direct.co.uk/products/?c=34

[DanielCoffey]

Hmm... they offer free worldwide delivery too.

 

It would be nice if they offered a sample sheet so it could be FP tested.

Edited February 4, 2013 by DanielCoffey

[torstar]

Here's a great site to peruse Bible papers and more.

 

http://www.bibledesignblog.com/2008/12/bleeding-through-the-sorry-state-of-bible-paper.html

 

 

Many the morning I wish I didn't stumble on that site years ago...

 

FP collectors find themselves with plenty of variations of the calf and the goat.

 

and

[jrm27]

Thanks for the info! I'll have to look up that "Bank Paper" as well as the Tomoe River. I did contact Zondervan, the publishers of my Bible. They directed me to Kinkos... so, no help there.

Edited February 4, 2013 by jrm27

[scribble1]

I have several Allan's Journals - I really like them. They are well bound and well made - the pages are gilt edged with a red underlying colour like some bibles. It is very like writing in a blank bible. The paper is good and I do not find feathering a problem. Occasionally there are small ink spots through the paper but considering the paper is fine that is not surprising. The lines are very close together.

 

I am not certain but I think Bibles in the past were usually printed on india paper and I believe this is no longer produced. I came accross the Allan Journals when I was looking for india paper.

 

J R Allan is a Glasgow Company. These journals have been mentioned quite a lot on FPN is you search for example:

 

 

http://www.fountainp..._1#entry1640488

 

http://www.fountainp..._1#entry1550249

Edited February 4, 2013 by scribble1

[torstar]

I have several Alla's Journals - I really like them. They are well bound and well made - the pages are gilt edged with a red underlying colour like some bibles. It is very like writing in a blank bible. The paper is good and I do not find feathering a problem. Occasionally there are small ink spots through the paper but considering the paper is fine that is not surprising. The lines are very close together.

 

I am not certain but I think Bibles in the past were usually printed on india paper and I believe this is no longer produced. I came accross the Allan Journals when I was looking for india paper.

 

J R Allan is a Glasgow Company. These journals have been mentioned quite a lot on FPN is you search for example:

 

 

http://www.fountainp..._1#entry1640488

 

http://www.fountainp..._1#entry1550249

 

 

Speaking of Allan, RL Allan is a worse addiction than Mont Blanc....

 

then you wind up on this mailing list...

 

http://evangelicalbible.com/

[Strombomboli]

Thank you for the warning! I will use one of my garbage mail addresses should I order there, which, I am afraid, will happen soon...

[Chris]

Allan's journals are lovely and considering the quality they are very well priced. Well worth compromising a little on the pen and ink stakes just to be able to write in those lovely little notebooks (and I don't say that very often - normally I want to use the pen and ink I want to use).

 

I have found a medium to fine nib and MB Midnight perfect, and that is not such a bad ink either.

Alternatively, the ESS or Diamine blue-black registrar's ink also worked very well and even allowed use of both sides of this thin paper.

 

Only trouble is whether my ramblings are of the same quality as the journals!

 

Chris

[torstar]

I like the Allan NKJV in red goatskin for a birthday present upcoming...