Condition

This artefact had been stored in a box with several other documents. Sections of these had become stuck together, with fragments adhering to the surface of the parchment. In addition to this, dirt was ingrained in the surface, making the letter more difficult to read.

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Treatment Aim

To clean the surface, and remove the obstructions covering the text.

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Treatment

Before any other treatment was considered, the artefact was gently dry cleaned using a wide soft bristled brush. This removed the loose dirt, allowing the edges of the paper to become more visible for later stages. Archival weights were used to secure the document, which both helped to prevent movement during treatment and started to flatten it.The layers of paper were carefully removed with a scalpel and retained in the hope that they could be reattached to their original documents at a later stage. Although the scalpel increased the risk of damaging the document and of removing the writing, it was decided that it was the best way to protect the fragments of paper, and with sufficient care, the risk would be minimal.

The sections of the letter without writing were then cleaned using a rubber to remove as much dirt as possible. This quicker and more effective than a smoke sponge when cleaning more robust materials such as parchment if they are in good condition, however it may cause damage to the sections of writing. To protect those, a smoke sponge was used to remove the dirt overlying them.

At the end of treatment the parchment had flattened very slightly but it was decided not to attempt further treatment due to time limitations.

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