Notes for later: Material cultures of Middle Earth

[caitri]

Because reasons I decided I needed to rewatch RoP and I have an all-new question:

Where did Galadriel get paper in Valinor?

Consider what paper is made of: Modern papers are primarily wood pulp which means killing trees which was a big no-no for Tolkien. It looked thick and white which means it could have a cloth fiber source which, at the beginning of the universe, implies a particular trade and reuse of textiles. (If they had had Eastern style papers made of kozo leaves that would have been interesting and easy to do!)
 

ALSO this distinguishes from the parchment vellum eg. animal skins used in Numenor! AND by the Harfoots!

While Elrond in Lindon is writing on paper that looks super papyrusey.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Paper can be made from most suffiently fibrous plants, right? SO she could have linen paper or papyrus paper or...