Quadrille Paper

Like a wood-based hotdog meat, stamp paper is made up of different bits of tree, cloth, and other fibrous materials. This material goes through a process of being broken down, cleaned, and colored to produce a paste called "stuff". When the stuff gets laid out to form paper, it is laid into a frame where the natural weave of stuff binds together as it dries. This is the stage where watermarking would occur. Metal bits in the form of letters or characters would cause stuff to be denser in this area than in other places, forming the watermark.

If the stuff is laid out onto a frame with a solid surface to dry (such as a layer of felt), it is called wove paper that tends to be more uniform (my understanding is that has more to do with the method of application than the material its placed on). If it is laid out onto a fine wire mesh frame instead, it is called wire-wove (which most modern stamps are an example of). If the stuff is laid out into courser wire meshes this is called laid paper. This is also where a natural watermarking effect can occur as the wires of the frame create a pattern. Batonne paper refers to staff like watermarks being created. Quadrille is similar but has a graphing paper grid like appearance.

Determining Quadrille Paper

The above shows the France 103 stamp with quadrille paper. It can't be seen very well, or at all, under normal light (left). As with all water marking review, it's easier to do by use of a water marking fluid, or lighter fluid (middle). If you have a new stamp with original gum, you will probably want alternative methods. Holding a stamp under bright light at different angles will help you see the markings, though you will never see it as clearly or all at once as with watermarking fluid (right).