Les Epistres sur le Roman de la Rose is comprised of forty-one parchment leaves. These thin leaves of parchments are probably made of split sheepskin and calfskin— the most common materials for parchment used in France. The process to make parchment requires that the skin be limed (the soaking of the skin in a soluble base), but not tanned (made into leather) (di Curci, 2003). Parchment, unlike leather, is therefore not waterproof and highly susceptible to humidity. The Bancroft manuscript of Les Epistres sur le Roman de la Rose is in good condition. While there are several pages with watermarks, the parchment is still strong and only three pages have small tears.
"German parchmenter," from Jost Amman and Hans Sachs. Frankfurt am Main. 1568
