The development of linen paper

The Renaissance led to a sudden surge in the demand for writing and printing paper in Europe. Linen paper became mainstream due to its durability and printing compatibility, and was widely used in books, contracts, securities, etc. The reputation of "paper with a lifespan of a thousand years" was established. Meanwhile, factories were built in many places in Europe, forming large-scale manual and semi-mechanized production. Techniques such as watermarking and embossing enhanced anti-counterfeiting and texture.

In the 19th century, wood pulp papermaking technology matured, with lower costs and greater output. It gradually replaced flax paper and became the mainstream paper for the general public. In China, due to the popularity of kraft paper and bamboo paper, flax papermaking has always been a niche market. Although flax for fiber was introduced for high-end paper in the early 20th century, the scale was limited and the production of traditional flax paper further shrank.