The Preservation Unit has recently preserved and prepared a letter written by Horatio Nelson (1805).
The Nelson letter had at some time been sandwiched between two sheets of plastic and mounted inside a leather bound presentation volume. The plastic sheets had warped over time, become discoloured and brittle and although protecting the letter from external physical damage were also creating tension on the letter resulting in a tear across the back page. There was also the probability that the letter would sustain further damage from the chemical breakdown of the plastic sheets with which it was in contact.
A decision was made to remove the letter from its existing housing in order to exhibit the item more clearly but also to eliminate any possible future damage from the deteriorating plastic sheets (a new archival enclosure would be constructed for future storage). The presentation volume was carefully opened and the plastic sheets containing the letter removed. It became apparent that the letter had been spot glued to one of the plastic sheets and was not going to be easily removed. After carrying out some tests on the adhesive it became clear that it could be softened with water. The inks of the letter were then tested for stability in water and the letter (still attached to the plastic sheet) was dampened and then soaked in tepid water and left for a time to enable the glue to soften. The letter was carefully separated from the plastic sheet and all traces of the glue removed. After drying between blotters under a light weight the flattened item was then encapsulated in an archival polyester wallet. The original presentation binding will be kept in a separate box along with the original letter.
| 
