n.unsplit calfskin treated with alum and polishedRitzenthaler 2010, 78–79Vellum and parchment were used extensively in the Middle Ages as writing surfaces for manuscripts; vellum also has been used since this period as a covering material in bookbinding. Traditionally, true vellum is the unsplit skin of a young calf, while parchment is made from split sheepskin.high-quality paper with a rough surface that imitates the appearance of such material
Notes
Vellum is distinguished from leather, which is tanned. Vellum is often used interchangeably with parchment,1 although parchment may also be made from goat or lamb skin.
