Russia leather
A more-or-less obsolete trade name originally
applied to a shaved cowhide, and later calfskin,
horse hide, goat skin, or sheepskin,
vegetable-tanned with tannins obtained from willow
and other barks, curried on the flesh side with a
mixture containing birch-bark extract to give it
its characteristic odor, and dyed black and in
colors other than the original red or reddish
brown. Russia leather (or imitation Russia calf)
was produced as early as the 17th century. Its use
as a bookbinding leather in the 20th century has
been mainly for BANDING blankbooks.
(94 , 172 , 264 )
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