CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION: ARTIFACT DISCUSSION

As part of Conservation & Preservation (INFO 632), I outlined the value of an artifact of my choosing, a notable letter from 1776, in a brief report.

In an oral presentation, I covered the preservation concerns paper from this era might arouse. I highlighted the red seal (possibly beeswax or resin), as well as the possibilities of a toxic element such as vermillion being present. I also explained that treatment such as washing the papers would be inadvisable as it could accelerate deterioration of the Iron-Gall ink. Other notable details include the creased and folded edges that appear to have been mended at some point. On the bright side, papers from this time, the hand-made era, were very physically strong and chemically permanent.