surface papers
Decorative endpapers, colored on one side only
subsequent to the manufacture of the paper. They
were produced in several (usually drab) colors and
some were glazed. Endpapers of this type were in
common use by the 1820s, generally with the drab
colors predominating, although clear yellow papers
of varying shades were also produced later on in
the century. The endpapers were used in
publishers' cloth and leather bindings, as well as
in miscellaneous bindings of cloth and leather.
The color was applied to the paper in pigment
form, which imparted a somewhat artificial effect,
unlike the vegetable-stained, surface-colored
papers which preceded them. Crudely pigmented
surface papers were used in the later 18th
century, but only rarely. This type of paper is
never found on the sides of half-bindings because
it was too easily stained by grease; however, it
was used for the covers of inexpensive
"yellowback" books of the 19th century. The darker
colors, especially brown, mauve, and black, were
often used for devotional books. Also called
"coated papers." (236 )
![[CoOL]](/icons/sm_cool.gif){kind=icon}