The C raft o f Binding
43
bility : indeed, it is sometimes difficult to decide, whether the leather, which is used on some of the earlier bindings, is calf, or whethe r it is morocco. Ther e is th e same objection to the use o f Russian leather, as to the use o f calf : namely, its tende ncy to crack at the joints. This leather, as its name implies, was original ly obtain ed from Russia, where it was made from the hides of you ng cattl e ; it is now made in othe r c ountries, the best sort coming from Austria. Genuine Russi an leat her is tann ed in willow b ark ; and its pecul iar odou r is due to an oil, obtained from the bar k of the b irch tree, with which the leather is dressed, in the process of finishing. This leather was introd uced into Eng lan d at the end of the last cen tur y; and was much used by Roger Payne. Modern pig-skin, on the contra ry, appea rs to be of a very durab le natur e, and especial ly lends itself to be finished in blind tooli ng ; it has not tha t pleasing colour, and tex ture , which disting uishes the skins used by the binde rs of the six tee nth century . Vellum is the most dura ble of all skins : but the R oman vellum, which is pre par ed for writi ng purposes, from lam b skins, in th e Camp agna, is n ot so good for bind ing, as the thicker, Eng lish vellum, which is made from calf skins. Of the inferior leath ers, ther e is little occa sion, here, to speak : imita tions of morocco are now made from sheep and split calf ; and roan is sh eep skin tanned in sumach, and coloured and dressed in imitatio n of morocco, e xce pt th at it is finished with a smooth surface. Sheep itsel f has been entire ly