Some notes about paper

Linen: For a deluxe look, your book can be printed on linen paper, either 60 pound or 70 pound, light cream or bright white. The 60-pound paper is watermarked. The 70 pound linen is not watermarked; however, any book over 28 pages would look too bulky at the spine printed on 70-pound paper.

Watermarks, a feature nowadays of quality writing paper, were commonly pressed into all book paper up until the mid-18th century. Only half the pages in a chapbook would bear watermarks, since they consist of 8½ x 11-inch sheets folded in two.

Surcharge for linen, per page:
  if 50 books— 40¢
  if 100 books— 80¢

For example, to print 50 copies of a 20-page chapbook on linen, add 40¢ x 20 = $8.00 to the basic cost; for 100 copies, add 80¢ x 20 = $16.00.

Translucent fly leaf: For a translucent paper over the inside title page, add $5.00 for 50 books, $10.00 for 100 books. The same rate applies for an opaque colored fly leaf.

Deluxe covers: Premium cover papers (or any special paper orders) are available for an additional $10, regardless of size or quantity of books. Cover samples currently in stock will be supplied once production is underway.

If you are curious about paper, you might visit a local paper supply retailer and ask to look at sample papers. Should you spot a paper you like, write down its name, the manufacturer and any other identifying information. Any paper currently on the market can be ordered.

About paper weights

Covers:
Why is it that the basic “light-weight” chapbook cover is a 90-pound index paper, but the “heavier” cover papers weigh 80 pounds? They are different types or grades of paper. Paper is designated by its weight per ream — 500 sheets — of a specified size for a particular type of paper.

Regular cover paper is cut in sheets that are two-thirds the size of index paper, and so a ream of the larger sheets of index paper would weigh about the same as a 60-lb. cover paper. A 67-lb. vellum bristol paper is the lightest of all papers used for book covers, softer than index paper, equivalent to a 50-lb. cover.

Text paper:
The 60-pound book paper used in basic chapbooks is the same as 24-pound writing paper.