In my ephemera questing, the old axiom "when it rain, it pours" has been proven true many times...and at least once before with this book! It's a Commissioner of Patents Reports, Volume 2, Arts & Manufactures.
Not to be confused with volume 1 you understand, or the agriculture version... There's sometimes a volume 3; that one's illustrations too...you can trust me on all of this.
I love this paper, not just for it's historic and steampunk look, but also the way it feels. Heavy without being shiny, a little tooth to it, yet almost sheer. You can fold it in half for a pocket and it doesn't rip. All important altered art considerations - you can see why I love it.
I think by now I've seen 4 or 5 editions of the book. With headings, without, with inventor and invention name, or without. They're all cool, and any edition is my favorite.
You can use a page as is, cut out an invention for an accent, or stack them beside each other for a busy background. I just realized I used paper from one of these books in assorted places in my gluebook, including the very last page.
Anyway, I found an affordable 1860 edition, and then I came across an 1862 on eBay which should arrive this week. So, I'm packaging individual lots of this paper today.
You can pick one up on eBay, or on Etsy, and see what you think. Or, since I seemed to have conquered the Paypal shopping cart, you can also grab it right here...
You'll see - it's maybe the best old art paper in the world.