Papermaking, France, 18th century

Reports by Jean-Guillaume Ecrevisse (1734-1787), papermaker, on improved papermaking techniques, submitted to Nicolas Desmarest (1725-1815), c.1775.

c.1775

2 volumes and one wrapper

Purchased from an unknown Parisian dealer, probably either Degrange or Charavay, in about October 1933 (acc. 66365).

The reports are undated but were probably written at some time between 1774, when Ecrevisse seems first to have come to the attention of the Académie des Sciences, and 1776, when he took Desmarest and others on a tour of papermaking facilities in Flanders and Holland. Ecrevisse describes Desmarest in the reports as 'membre de l'académie Royalle des sciences et inspecteur des manufactures': although the latter did not become inspector-general and director of manufactures until 1788, when Ecrevisse was already dead, the designation probably refers to his earlier office as inspector of manufactures of Champagne, to which he was appointed in 1771.

Each volume has a small paper tab pasted onto the first or second leaf, bearing the reference numbers 39541 and 39542 respectively.