Handling parchment
Many of the early records, including treaties, charters and wills, are made of parchment. These may be bound volumes, documents with wax seals, or large rolls made from several sheets of parchment sewn end-to-end.
Parchment is made from animal skin so does not absorb ink like paper does. This means that the text is particularly vulnerable to inappropriate handling.
Read our guidance below or view our short video.
View a text version of this video
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Avoid touching the document:
Use weights to hold the parchment in place. Use a paper marker to follow the text instead of fingers. |
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Pendant wax seals:
If a pendant wax seal is attached to the document, ensure that the seal is resting on a foam pad. When turning the document over, be sure to turn the seal at the same time. |
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Parchment rolls:
When scrolling through the document, re-roll it as it is read. Use weights to hold the roll in place. |
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