Russia calf
Originally, a leather produced in Russia from
calfskin, vegetable-tanned with tannin obtained
from the bark of willow, poplar, or larch trees,
curried from the flesh side with a mixture
containing birch-bark extracts—which gives it
the characteristic odor for which it was
famous—and dyed red or reddish brown. It was
often given a grain pattern of latticed lines.
Genuine Russia calf was at one time highly valued
as a bookbinding leather, particularly between
1780 and 1830, partly because its pleasing odor
was supposed to repel insects. It was first
introduced into Europe before 1700.
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