To Japan Or Varnish White Leather so that it may be elastic, is altogether a different work from varnishing or japanning wood or metal, or papier mache

For white leather oil is the principal ingredient, as it is well known that chalk is extensively used to give white leather its pure color, or speaking more philosophically, its fair colorless whiteness. White leather having already the basis of white varnish, it should get a light coat of the pure varnish, before mentioned, and dried well in the oven, or a coat of the oil copal will answer very well. This being well dried, boiled nut oil nicely coated and successively dried, will make a most beautiful white varnish for leather, not liable to crack. This quality takes a long time to dry, and of course is more expensive. Coarse varnish may be made of boiled linseed oil, into which is added gradually the acetate of lead as a drier. This addition must be done very cautiously as the oil will be apt to foam over.

A better and more safe drying mixture than the mere acetate of lead, is, to dissolve the acetate of lead in a small quantity of water, neutralize the acid with the addition of pipe clay, evaporate the sediment to perfect dryness, and feed the oil when gently boiling gradually with it.

These varnishes or japans, as far as described, have only reference to white grounds.

There is some nice work to be observed, and there is much in applying the varnishes at the right time, knowing by the eye the proper moment when the mixture is perfect, or when to add any ingredient. These things require practice.