Marble effects have long been highly prized. Happily the crafts of preparing plaster and paper among other materials to imitate stone are alive and well. Oil-based inks are dropped carefully onto water to form pools of colour; these can be pulled into streaks, before a paper is dipped in to capture the pattern permanently. The paper was very popular for covering books up to the 19th century and is sometimes imitated today by printers for exercise and drawing book covers.
From the cover of 'A SHORT and EASY METHOD with the DEISTS; Wherein the CERTAINTY of the CHRISTIAN RELIGION is DEMONSTRATED by INFALLIBLE PROOF, from FOUR RULES, which are incompatible to any IMPOSTURE that ever yet has been, or can poffibly be.' By the late Rev. Charles Leslie, London, MDCCXCIX.