33th IPH Congress 2016, Valencia (Spain)

From 20^th to 24^thof September 2016, it will take palce the 33rd International Paper Historians Congress, in Valencia (Spain). The Fondazione G. Fedrigoni ISTOCARTA represented by the Spanish writer and paper-scholar Josè Carlos Balmaceda Abrate (Member of the Scientific Board of ISTOCARTA) is to present its latest publication first in Spain, on the third volume of the prestigious work on the History of Paper “The era of the sign”, THE MOULD. Paper-And-Mould-Makers in the History of Western paper edited by Giancarlo Castagnari, undoubtedly unique in its type for the topic it deals with, the “mould” - indispensable tool for the manufacturing of handmade paper since XIII century – narrated under a historical and technical-scientific aspect; and which has sprung from the desire to spread and enhance the valuable 2.295 “watermarks” (dating from 1846) and inherited by the historical paper-mill Cartiere Miliani Fabriano, recently restored and transferred to the historical paper archaeological building complex of Fabriano, head-office of Fondazione G. Fedrigoni ISTOCARTA.

Furthermore, Josè Carlos Balmaceda Abrate, is to publicly and officially inaugurate the 3^rd edition of the biennial award promoted by Fondazione G. Fedrigoni ISTOCARTA, which as from this year onwards, will become “international” and “itinerant”. The first will be held in Spain.

To the partecipants news was disclosed of Fondazione G. Fedrigoni ISTOCARTA’s acquisition of the historical collection of ancient papers from Fabriano dating from 1267(nos. 1.887 ancient watermarks) belonging to the filigranology scholar, Augusto Zonghi (1840 - 1916), aspired by many paper experts worldwide, from the Dutch “Labarre Foundation” to the American “Library of Congress” of Washington; sent to the International Universal Exhibition held in Paris in 1900 and defined that time as being “unique in the world” by the Adjudicating Commission, a valuable point of reference for research and the study on the history of paper, which ranks as being one of the most important in Europe.