From the Archives - Sept. 22, 2022

The exact origin of carbon paper is somewhat uncertain. Originally called "carbonic paper," it is thin paper coated with a mixture of wax and dry ink. The first documented use of carbonic paper was in 1806, when Ralph Wedgwood and Pellegrino Turri each invented their own form of carbon paper at virtually the same time. The object was for the writer to write on a sheet of paper, using one of the carbon sheets so as to obtain a "black copy" on another sheet of paper placed underneath.

Originally carbon paper was made entirely by hand. A mixture of carbon black and oil was applied to sheets of paper using a wide brush. Eventually, the first carbon-coating machine introduced the use of hot wax applied by rollers to replace the messy oil applied by brush. In this way modern one-sided carbon paper came to be made. One of the disadvantages of carbon paper was that it could only produce a limited number of copies.

By the 1990s, carbon paper was still commercially available. However, its use has declined significantly in the last 20 years.

This is a sample letter and copy written by Charley Smith using carbon paper.

Born in 1857, Charley Smith came to the Kootenai Valley in 1885 to operate the stagecoach for his brother, Sam. He sent out promotional letters to friends inviting them to the area. He had several "hunting camps" in the 1920s and 1930s. Charley, father of "Tot" Smith, passed away on Feb. 7, 1943.

Your Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, sponsors this column.

Visit the museum Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and you can visit the website at www.boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can be reached via email at doyouremember@meadowcrk.com or by telephone at 208-267-7720. Thank you for your continued support.