Dating paper accurately is one of the most powerful authentication techniques in the world of documents, manuscripts, art, books, autographs, and historical ephemera. While ink and handwriting can be forged, the microscopic fiber structure of paper exposes its true age. Rag pulp, wood pulp, lignin content, bleaching chemicals, fiber morphology, watermarks, machine direction, optical brighteners, and UV behavior create a forensic fingerprint that cannot be convincingly replicated.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 87 — The Expert’s Guide to Dating Paper by Wood Pulp & Fiber Content Analysis gives collectors, appraisers, archivists, and document examiners a professional-level system for determining whether a paper matches its claimed era—or if it is a modern reproduction disguised as an antique.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Differentiate rag paper, early wood-pulp paper, modern processed pulp, and synthetic fiber blends
Identify lignin presence, oxidation patterns, foxing, edge toning, and environmental aging indicators
Interpret chain lines, laid lines, wove patterns, and mold-made structures
Recognize authentic vs reproduction watermarks
Use UV fluorescence to detect brighteners, chemical treatments, and modern stock
Identify animal-glue sizing vs synthetic surface coatings
Detect artificially aged paper (tea-staining, chemical browning, laser-cut edges, and printed deckle edges)
Analyze fiber length, morphology, and pulp type under magnification
Understand how paper age directly impacts authenticity and market value
Volume 87 provides a complete, defensible, forensic-style dating method—used by professional experts to authenticate documents, prints, letters, manuscripts, maps, and historical artifacts with confidence and precision.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
Dating paper accurately is one of the most powerful authentication techniques in the world of documents, manuscripts, art, books, autographs, and historical ephemera. While ink and handwriting can be forged, the microscopic fiber structure of paper exposes its true age. Rag pulp, wood pulp, lignin content, bleaching chemicals, fiber morphology, watermarks, machine direction, optical brighteners, and UV behavior create a forensic fingerprint that cannot be convincingly replicated.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 87 — The Expert’s Guide to Dating Paper by Wood Pulp & Fiber Content Analysis gives collectors, appraisers, archivists, and document examiners a professional-level system for determining whether a paper matches its claimed era—or if it is a modern reproduction disguised as an antique.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Differentiate rag paper, early wood-pulp paper, modern processed pulp, and synthetic fiber blends
Identify lignin presence, oxidation patterns, foxing, edge toning, and environmental aging indicators
Interpret chain lines, laid lines, wove patterns, and mold-made structures
Recognize authentic vs reproduction watermarks
Use UV fluorescence to detect brighteners, chemical treatments, and modern stock
Identify animal-glue sizing vs synthetic surface coatings
Detect artificially aged paper (tea-staining, chemical browning, laser-cut edges, and printed deckle edges)
Analyze fiber length, morphology, and pulp type under magnification
Understand how paper age directly impacts authenticity and market value
Volume 87 provides a complete, defensible, forensic-style dating method—used by professional experts to authenticate documents, prints, letters, manuscripts, maps, and historical artifacts with confidence and precision.
Digital Download — PDF • 9 Pages • Instant Access
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