In the previous blog, we explored how to determine the page layout for a manuscript project. Now, we’ll focus on the manuscript page preparation for writing, which are the final preparations needed before writing starts. These preparations consist of folding the quires, applying the template through pricking, and ruling the lines onto the page. We’ll examine each step in detail.
Sanding the parchment for writing
Start by sanding any smooth surfaces of the bifolia. If the parchment is too smooth, you’ll run into trouble when writing: the quill won’t have anything to “catch on,” and the ink won’t stay on the surface. To sand the parchment, use pumice powder—a very fine volcanic rock that’s perfect for the job. Sand lightly, just enough to make the surface feel velvety, almost like silk.
Watch out, though! Some parchment migth come pre-roughened by the manufacturer…
Watch out, though! Some parchment migth come pre-roughened by the manufacturer, and the flesh side might already have enough texture to skip sanding. Are you not sure whether or not your parchment needs preparation? Try writing on it first. If sanding is necessary, just scrape off the ink and smooth the page—no marks left behind!
Folding the sheets into pages
Once done sanding, continue the page preparation by folding the sheets of paper (or parchment) in half. This’ll help aligning the pricking template in the next step. Don’t press too hard! If the crease is too tight, the material will be difficult to work with when it needs to lie flat. Gently fold the sheets so they stay stacked neatly in quires without popping open. I advise using a bone folder for this.
Once you’ve folded four sheets, gather them into a quire. Each additional sheet adds four pages to the quire. A standard quire usually has 16 pages, but this depends on the thickness of the paper. Choosing the right thickness is important—quires shouldn’t be too thin or too thick, as both can cause issues during bookbinding.
As a general rule, I assemble quires of four sheets (16 pages) when using material with a weight of around 160–170 gsm myself.
If I use paper, I typically assemble quires of four sheets (16 pages) when using material with a weight of around 160–170 gsm myself. For thinner paper, like 120 gsm, you can easily go up to eigth sheets (32 pages) without creating any issues. However, for thicker material, such as 200 gsm, I definitely wouldn’t go higher than three sheets (12 pages).
By the way… a bifolium (plural: bifolia) is a single sheet of paper (or parchment) folded in half, creating four pages. The term comes from Latin, with ‘bi’ meaning ‘two’ and ‘folium’ meaning ‘leaf’. In historical manuscript production, bifolia were commonly used as building blocks for quires, which were then gathered to form a complete book.
Pricking the manuscript pages
After folding the bifolia, the next step is pricking the pages. Pricking is the act of creating tiny, barely visible holes in the paper (or parchment) that you can use as guides for placing a ruler. Pricking the holes is done using a template. This allows you to consistently prick the pages throughout the project. Without pricking, you’d have to painstakingly measure and rule each page individually.
Creating the pricking template
If you haven’t created a pricking template yet, you’ll need to start there. Begin by determining your page layout. Once that’s set, make a template based on the layout by adding tiny holes near the edges of the pages—these will mark the positions for either horizontal or vertical guidelines. The result should look something like the schematic below:
The illustration shows an example of a pricking template. It’s made from a sheet of material identical to what you’ll use for your manuscript, folded in the middle. The red lines represent the page layout, while the black dots mark the positions of the pricks—small holes. You can determine the position of these holes in one of two ways:
- Using Geometry: You can subdivide the page until you find an ideal height (proportional to the height of the text area). However, this method can be time-consuming and somewhat hard to execute precisely. I think it is a waste of time, if you can get the same results by simply choosing a height and measure that out.
- Simpler Method: By using a ruler, or a compass, you can quite easily measure out the locations of the pricking marks. You can easily test the height of the text lines on a blank sheet, untill you find one that suits your vision for the book. The pricking in the next chapter shows the use of a template made through geometry, but I would personally go for this simpler method for any future projects.
Sometimes, you’ll find mention of a ‘pricking wheel’ to mark the pages. However, their existence has been questionable at best and I find that this article, by Joseph A. Dane, quite convincingly disproves their existence.
Using the pricking template
Once you have your pricking template, you can use it to mark the pages consistently. The tiny pricks define where to align your ruler, so precision is important! Any imprecision will result in misaligned guidelines, creating a disorganized appearance in your ruling. Worse, if unnoticed, it could lead to a situation where a single diagonal handwritten line ruined the entire page.
Using the pricking template is easy.
Using the pricking template is easy. Since you folded the quires in half, simply insert and press it into the backside of a bifolium. Then, use an awl to prick through both the template and the page, following the marked spots until you’ve pricked the entire page. You’ll now have pricking marks on both sides of the pages, even though you’ve only pricked one side.
By the way, you don’t necessarily have to purchase an awl. A needle with a piece of cork stuck to the backside can also work as an impromptu tool, though it might not be the most comfortable for longer projects. Alternatively, you could also use a knife; researchers found slit-like pricking marks in many manuscript:
Margeson […] pointed out that many surviving manuscripts are pricked with a knife, leaving long slits, rather than a pin-like implement; and that the large quantity of these objects, as well as their findspots, suggests a domestic use, perhaps in embroidery, instead (or as well as) a literary use.
Styli, pencils and parchment-prickers (Retrieved 2022, October 3)
Ruling the pages for writing
Once you folded and pricked the bifolia, we begin ruling the pages in preparation for writing. With the pricking marks in place, it’s simply a matter of connecting them using a ruler and something to mark the pages. You can do this either using historically accurate materials and methods, or the modern method of a pencil and a ruler. I’ve covered both below.
Historically accurate
Historically, ruling a manuscript page in preparation for writing could be done in either one of three ways:
- In the early medieval period, ruling often involved scoring the pages with the back of a knife, creating thin lines for writing. These lines were nearly invisible to the eye, unless viewed under a specific angle of light. However, since this method physically damaged the surface, the marks became visible in any decoration, especially in gilding with gold leaf.
- By the high medieval period, scribes made lines using lead plummet. However, since lead is toxic, it requires careful handling. Beyond its toxicity, I can speak from personal experience that working with a lead plummet is both tedious and labor-intensive. The point dulls quickly, requiring frequent sharpening. And, for reasons I couldn’t quite figure out, it sometimes simply refused to make marks.
- The late medieval period saw the introduction of ruling with ink, allthough that appears to be reserved for more luxurious manuscripts. As ink takes time to dry and poses the risk of smudging before doing so, this method might be considered slightly tedious but ultimately rewarding. You might even try different colors of ink, other than red.
Modern method
A modern alternative to the methods mentioned above is a simple H2 pencil. It requires little sharpening, doesn’t smudge, and the marks it makes are nearly permanent, yet can be easily removed with an eraser. With a blunt tip, it also creates lines indistinguishable from those made with a lead plummet. It’s my tool of choice, and the one I’m using in the video below, which demonstrates how I rule a bifolium:
Once you ruled all pages within a quire, these lines will guide your writing and ensure it stays within the defined boundaries. At this point, you’ve finished the page preparation for writing. Now you can start writing the text itself! If any stages of this page preparation process are unclear, or if you see improvements to the workflow, please let me know via my contact page. I’m happy to help out!
In the previous blog, we looked the text selection for a manuscript project. This blog, we explored the essential steps of page preparation before writing. So, for the next blog we’ll dive into the writing process itself. There’s more to it than simply copying text from an exemplar. Therefore, I’ll cover topics like setting up your workspace, organizing quires, handling writing mistakes, and more…