Documents with Seals

Packaging | Paper Documents | Parchment Documents | Volumes | Maps and Plans | Photographic Materials | 

Modern Media | Storage Conditions | Dos and Don'ts | Conservation Service

Great care must be taken with documents that have seals as the seal can be easily broken and can shatter if knocked.

• If the seal is attached to the document by a cord or parchment tag, support both the seal and the document to avoid stress on the attachment.
• Store the document in an acid free folder tied with cotton tape. Label the folder so that you know a seal is inside it.
• When consulting the document, support the seal on a clean, folded towel or similar item. If the seal is in its original wooden box or tin case, make sure it is protected by using a thick layer of cotton wool in the base of the box or tin and another layer over the top of the seal.
• Seals that are applied on to a document should not have any weight put on them as it would cause the seal to crack.