Russia calf

This is a new feature on the Ligatus website, in which we plan to make available short essays, observations, queries and comments on matters relating to bookbinding that might not get an airing elsewhere. We will be happy to consider adding contributions from anyone who has something of relevance and interest to offer – please contact Ligatus and we will get back to you.
Our first contribution is an essay by Valeria Tsygankova, completed as part of her MA in the History of the Book at the University of London, which explores the Russian language sources for the origins of Russia calf – material closed to those of us who cannot read Russian. She hopes to pursue this work further when she has the opportunity to do so, but in the meantime would like to share what she has found with the rest of us.