The Collaborative International Dictionary
Russia \Rus"sia\, n. A country of Europe and Asia.
Russia iron, a kind of sheet iron made in Russia, having a lustrous blue-black surface.
Russia leather, a soft kind of leather, made originally in Russia but now elsewhere, having a peculiar odor from being impregnated with an oil obtained from birch bark. It is much used in bookbinding, on account of its not being subject to mold, and being proof against insects.
Russia matting, matting manufactured in Russia from the inner bark of the linden ( Tilia Europ[ae]a).
Wikipedia
Russia leather is a particular form of bark-tanned cow leather. It is distinguished by a later processing step, after tanning, where birch oil is worked into the rear face of the leather. This gives a leather that is particularly hard-wearing, flexible and resistant to water. The oil impregnation also deterred insect attack.
The high quality of this leather, its usefulness for a range of purposes, and its manufacture being difficult to replicate elsewhere, led to it being a major export good from Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was an important item of trade for the Muscovy Company.
In German-speaking countries, this leather was also known by the name Juchten or Juften.
Usage examples of "russia leather".
It yields oil of Birch Tar, and the peculiar, well-known odour of russia leather is due to the use of this oil in the process of dressing.
It likewise imparts durability to leather, and it isowing to its presence that books bound in russia leather are not liable to become mouldy.
But when I rallied a little I saw a Russia leather wallet lying in the aisle almost at my feet, and, like a fool, I stuck it, with the bit of chain, into my bag.
Lady Molly was at work with the chief over some reports, whilst I was taking shorthand notes at a side desk, when a card was brought in by one of the men, and the next moment, without waiting either for permission to enter or to be more formally announced, a magnificent apparition literally sailed into the dust-covered little back office, filling it with an atmosphere of Parma violets and Russia leather.
Benvolio possessed an old quarto volume bound in Russia leather, about which there clung an agreeable pungent odour.