Below are answers to common technical questions about our archival paper & board.
Our range of archival paper and board is suitable for archival storage.
Our archival paper and board is made from 100% cotton and are naturally acid-free.
Our archival paper and board is available in Imperial, which measures 22" x 30" (56 cm x 76 cm).
Each sheet is lifted individually by hand using traditional papermaking techniques on a hand mould and so therefore they are not available on a roll.
Our range of archival paper and board is only available in white.
Our archival paper and board is available to order online in Imperial size in the following grades:
- 90 gsm
- 110 gsm
- 210 gsm
- 320 gsm.
Thicker grades are available but are subject to availability, please e-mail us for further details:
- 420 gsm
- 540 gsm
- 640 gsm
- 750 gsm
- 850 gsm
- 1,000 gsm.
Due to the handmade nature of our papermaking, these weights are approximate and are subject to inherent variance, e.g. a 110 gsm sheet can be between 110 and 140 gsm.
Yes, our archival paper and board range includes a buffered variant which contains 4% calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).
Our archival paper and board constitutes the following:
Finally, the range of buffered paper contains calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) at 4%.
Our paper is made from 100% cotton fibre which is naturally lignin-free.
The cotton fabric offcuts used in our papermaking is procured from select garment manufacturing units in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. Only new and white rag offcuts are accepted for our papermaking.
The cotton used in our paper is procured from select manufacturing units which then undergo stringent quality checking and sorting before being used to make our paper. All other raw materials used in our papermaking are procured from reputable and reliable suppliers.
Before being used for papermaking, the cotton fabric material is boiled to help remove any additives which may have been present. However, as the cotton material is white, it is likely that optical brighteners are present. We are working with our supplier to procure cotton without optical brighteners.
Our water undergoes several stages of filtering before being used in the papermaking process.
The water used in our papermaking does contain calcium and magnesium. These compounds are considered beneficial to archival paper as they contribute to the alkaline reserve, helping avoid acid-induced deterioration.
There are no other additives in our handmade paper.
Our paper and board is available in buffered and unbuffered variants, the buffered range contains calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) at 4%.
Buffered paper has an alkaline reserve (4% calcium carbonate, CaCO₃) added to it to neutralise acids that it may come into contact with from the material it is storing or from the surrounding environment.
Buffered paper and board is typically used for the following:
- Most paper documents (photocopies, letters, newspapers, manuscripts, books)
- Plant-derived textiles such as cotton and linen.
Buffered paper can damage items that are inherently acidic or chemically sensitive, such as:
- Historic photographs (especially 19th-20th century)
- Protein-based textiles such as silk and wool
- Old or deteriorated cellulose nitrate or acetate films.
In the above instances, regular unbuffered paper/board is advisable.
Please note that this is general advice and we recommend consulting with an archival specialist regarding your specific collection, requirement, and storage environment.
Our paper and board can withstand typical handling and storage in reasonable and stable environmental conditions, e.g. low and stable temperature, low and stable humidity, dry, with good ventilation.
Harsh climate conditions such as high and varying temperature and humidity will accelerate the aging process of any artefact, as well as encourage biological activity like mould, resulting in visible degradation.
To date, the oldest example of our paper and board dates back to the 1950s. Paper and board made from 100% cotton is supposed to last hundreds of years in reasonable and stable environmental conditions.
Cotton paper exhibits high folding endurance and good tearing resistance due to the strength and flexibility of the cotton fibres.
Our paper is suitable for basic writing instruments, however, very free-flowing pens are not recommended in order to avoid ink bleed.
Given the handmade nature and texture of our paper, inkjet printers are recommended for digital printing as laser printers require a perfectly smooth surface.
As our paper and board sheets are made individually by hand using traditional papermaking techniques, there will be inherent variance in formation and weight between batches and even between individual sheets.
Our papermaking process contains stringent quality checks and quality assurance steps to avoid many of the common defects that can occur during hand papermaking. Each stage of the papermaking process has defined standard operating procedures (SOP) which are followed and logged to ensure quality at each step. Additionally, quality control checks are carried out at three separate stages to verify that the standard procedures are followed and that the paper is of the expected quality.
As yet, our paper and boards have not been tested in laboratory conditions against these standards. We are actively looking for laboratories who can carry out this testing and we are able to support any customer who is interested in conducting these tests themselves.
Yes, we can provide samples at a cost for testing and evaluation purposes.
The information provided in this document outlines the technical specification of our paper and board. We can provide assistance if any further information is required.
Our archival paper and board have been used by various institutes across India, namely:
- Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives & Research Library
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
- National Archives of India
- ISHA Foundation
- National Centre for Biological Sciences
- Sri Ramanasramam Archives
- Avatar Meher Baba Trust.
We are currently in the process of producing a catalogue of standard archival products that are most commonly requested by our customers, e.g. folders and boxes for documents, manuscripts, photographs, negatives, fabrics, CDs, DVDs etc.
If you have a requirement for a specific product please get in touch for a quotation.
Yes. Please e-mail us details of your requirement for a quotation.
Yes. Please e-mail us details of your requirement for a quotation.
Yes, our thicker board can be used to make self-supporting boxes up to a certain size. For larger sizes, boxes can be made from a rigid grey board material covered with our archival paper.
Yes, however, while we are able to provide advice about our own range of paper and board, we are unable to provide advice on archival and conservation matters as each collection differs based on its condition and storage environment. For technical guidance on archival matters, we recommend contacting an archival consultant.
Orders for any item listed on our online shop can be placed online.
Orders for custom items, or any other item not listed on our online shop can be placed with our team via e-mail. E-mail orders will require a purchase order after which a pro forma invoice will be provided. Once payment is received, goods will be manufactured and despatched.
All paper/boards or custom stationery and storage solutions are packaged to avoid damage during transit.
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