French Paper Sizes

Before the adoption of international ISO standards in 1967, France utilized its own unique paper sizing system that conformed to the AFNOR standard instituted in 1926. Various formats under this old French specification endure today, finding niche applicability despite the prevailing ISO norms. These carryover sizes hearken from traditional artisanal paper production when durable branded watermarks denoted different sheet dimensions. For instance, the bourgeois Pot and spherical Couronne types persist for stationery purposes. While common ISO dimensions now dominate in France, certain specialty French formats still occupy a nostalgic market space. Their continued, if esoteric, relevance stems from historical preservation efforts around bespoke bookbinding and paper arts. Hence the old ways have not fully faded, with craft workers and aesthetes maintaining selective antique standards parallel to modern industry standards. The result is a minor standing legacy alongside the ISO ascendency - offering reminders of the original French approach.