[Proceedings United States National Museum, 1883. Appendix. ] 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
No. 23. 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING PAPER MOLDS OF INSCRIPTIONS IN 
STONE, WOOD, BRONZE, ETC. 
Prepared by Ensign A. P. NIBLACK, U. S. N.* 
I.—MATERIALS. 
Three grades of paper, cut in sheets convenient for handling, and 
rolled for packing or transportation; several pounds of starch; several 
ounces of alum; Cooper’s white glue (one-fourth pound to one pound 
of starch); boiled linseed or fat oil; essence of turpentine ; yellow wax; 
pieces of thick pasteboard, or wooden blocks. Boards, scantling, canvas, 
nails, hammer, sand, &c., as explained in Sections III and V, and 
depending on circumstances. 
II.—TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES. 
Paste brush, similar to white-wash brush; ordinary paint brush, for 
applying hardening mixture; large, flat, coir or grass brush with handle 
similar to that of an ordinary hair brush; smali, stiff, paint brush (the 
two latter will be designated ‘‘ large” and “small” brush, respectively ; 
they are to be used in beating or “stippling” the paper in obtaining an 
impression); sponge; large pair of shears; spatula, or modeler’s knife; 
pans, pots, &c., for holding water, boiling paste and hardening mixture, 
heating sand, &c. 
IIIl.—NOTES ON MATERIALS. 
Paper, for this purpose, should be unsized, and what may be called 
malleable, that is, when wet and beaten or stippled with a hard brush it 
*[Compiled from a pamphlet on ‘‘ Lottino plastique,” by M. Lottin de Laval,M.S., 
of the Anthropological Laboratory, Museum of Nat. Hist., Paris, notes furnished by 
Mr. King, stereotyper of Lvening Star, Washington, D. C., and suggestions of Mr. 
Victor Mindeletf, U. S. Bureau of Ethnology. } 
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