Deckle Edge
Deckle Edge is the rough, untrimmed edge of paper. [1] In the past, deckled edges were made as a result of manual paper making from a contraption called the deckle. Nowadays, machines can artificially produce deckled edges on machine-made paper.
The Deckle
A deckle is the wooden frame around the edges of a mold used when manually making paper. [2]
Using the Deckle
During the papermaking process, paper-makers would pour a paper pulp mixture into the deckle. After the pulp is in the mold and shaped, it is then hung to dry. Sometimes, excess paper pulp can seep out and dry over the edges of the deckle, creating the uneven deckled edge. [3]
History
The deckled edge was originally seen as a defect among books. Because of this, early printers would almost always trim the edges before binding the paper. However, collectors in the 17th century wanted to see the deckled edges of a book as proof that it had not been trimmed excessively. In the late 1800's, it became the fashion to admire the deckle edge and leave it untrimmed. A machine called the Fourdrinier machine had been invented to mass-produce paper and in turn, removed the deckle edge.[4] Paper was continuously rolled out with the final stage being to trim the deckle edge. In the modern day, the deckle edge has become mostly artificial with the creation of books being printed on machine-made paper. [5] A machine cuts the edges of the book in a randomized pattern, creating an artificial deckle edge.[4]
- ↑ “Deckle Edge Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deckle%20edge. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
- ↑ “Deckle Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deckle. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
- ↑ Manchester, Sandra. “Deckle Edge.” Perfect Paper Company, 20 Nov. 2020, www.perfectpapercompany.co.uk/blogs/news/basic-breakdown-deckle-edge?srsltid=AfmBOop-nRzUcsAwvOT0bXNWg-VVzG_rcccIGoNygDv3CngsdAtwA2Hv.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 “Deckle Detecting: Printed Books.” The Economist, 15 July 2012.https://www.proquest.com/docview/1025686609?accountid=SUSU6749&pq-origsite=primo&sourcetype=Magazines
- ↑ “Deckle Edge.” [CoOL], cool.culturalheritage.org/don/dt/dt0981.html. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
