Hello.

I'm a bookbinder in private practice and I recently acquired a printer with a maximum sheet capacity of Super B, 13 x 19. I've printed some projects by cutting down a 19 x 26 sheet of Rives light or Somerset (folded it once, trimmed then fed), but I'm looking for some Super B sheets with specific requirements for a prospective customer who wants a 17th C. replica book, so the paper can't be very thick.

I've scoured all the paper sources I could find as well as my existing suppliers, and while I find a whole array of this size sheet, I can't seem to find any that are the following: 60-70lb text weight, or around 80 gsm/3.5 caliper, soft-white/off-white/cream/ivory. It seems all the sheets I'm able to locate are either bright white or glossy, or too heavy (for example, I can get ivory sheets from Legion, Revere, but 81lb text -- way too thick to print a 200+ page book and keep it a good size in thickness to match the period).

Can anyone recommend a paper to use? It doesn't have to be fine art paper -- I'm willing to use inkjet and others, so long as the size is right, the grain is long, and the weight is right. Or, I'll even settle for a lightweight text in size 19 x 26 -- even that is difficult to find (for that size, however, the grain needs to be short... I'm printing 4-up once it's trimmed).

Any pointers or recommendations would be gratefully received.

Cheers!

Great question.

Based on all of your specifications, we have two great choices for you.

First a 70-70lb text is 89-104gsm. So -

Zerkall Book is available in 30x20.75 sheets 100gsm in smooth and vellum
http://www.legionpaper.com/zerkall-book

Legion Bamboo is available in 27.2x39.3 sheets 105gsm
http://www.legionpaper.com/legion-bamboo

Have a look and let us know what you think.