The history of parchment begins in the 2nd century BC in the wealthy city of Pergamon in Asia Minor. When the Egyptians refused to supply papyrus, the craftsmen of Pergamon perfected the process of preparing animal skin, creating a material that was durable, writable on both sides, and resistant to tearing. This new material—parchment—dominated as the official medium for books, maps, and imperial documents for centuries.

Today, this tradition lives in the heart of Greece, in Amfissa, specifically in the historic district of Harmaina. Here, our ancestors—the Tanners—created a major leather‑processing center with strong economic and social influence.