Paper handkerchiefs from the 2nd century

In 105 A.D., the manufacture of paper was documented for the first time in China, but paper had probably been around since 200 B.C. And paper handkerchiefs were already available in China in the 2nd century A.D.

Paper handkerchiefs were already available in China in the 2nd century A.D.
© Photo by PublicDomainPictures at Pixabay
16.08.2021

Europe lagged miles behind this development, with the oldest paper documents dating back to the 12th century A.D. In 1390, the first paper mill was founded in Germany.

But it was not until 1894 that the first paper handkerchiefs appeared on the market in Germany, produced by a paper mill in Göppingen that no longer exists today. This was a very thin, almost normal paper that was soaked in glycerine to achieve a certain softness.

Then, in 1929, the first paper handkerchief made of pure cellulose came out in Germany under the name Tempo, which is still used today, manufactured by Vereinigte Papierwerke Nürnberg. This was pulp paper that was also coated with a thin layer of glycerine to achieve softness.