Wood pulp paper process didn’t invented until mid nineteenth century. Flax and linen fibers were used in almost all of western civilized countries.
In the mid-sixties archival architectural and engineering drawings were made on very fine woven linen treated with a starch compound. I remember having to use “Pounce”, a fine pumice powder, to roughen the slick surface to provide enough ‘tooth’ to accept pencil lines.
I still have some of my dad’s German technical books with the drafting linen dust covers. After about eighty years the linen, while faded, is in almost new condition while the wood pulp pages are brittle, requiring careful handling.
What an absolutely wonderful thing to have! Do you wear cotton gloves when handling the technical books?