Manuscripts and Documents
Historical manuscripts can be marked on paper or parchment, in endless varieties of ink, pencil, and media in wax.
The most critical conservation and preservation issue for manuscripts is the deterioration of iron gall inks. The aging inks’ excess acid and iron completely penetrate the paper, leaving the fibers extremely brittle. Affected paper will break along each marked line.
Frequently used manuscripts are also often mended with tape. Tape removal is necessary to prevent dark staining and embrittlement.
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Lithograph printed register for family birth, marriage, and death records.
Condition: the paper was heavily creased from poor storage. The top of the page had been trimmed along the design element.
Treatment: the document was washed on a rigid gel support to remove staining, and then lined with Japanese paper. A fill was made for the top of the document with cotton paper and toned to match the printed design.
20th century passport.
Condition: the document had severe stains and embrittlement from tape, and removing the tape was complicated by the fact that it was adhered over text. The document’s various inks, dyes, and stamps also had different tolerances for the water and alcohol used in treatments.
Treatment: the media had to be fixed and protected with a sublimating wax. The tape staining was removed with a solvent mixture on a suction platen. The paper was also bathed to remove acidic degradation, and the document was lined with Japanese paper.