Notes
The promissory note was originally folded multiple times, most significantly through the vertical and horizontal centers. These folds have not torn, though there is a pinhead-sized loss at the intersection of the two, where the document was worn when folded.
An extensive amount of pressure sensitive tape was applied to the document on both the recto and verso, likely in an attempt to prevent mechanical damage from occurring along the outer edges and along the central folds described above. On the recto, long pieces of tape were applied around the entire perimeter of the object and along the length of the horizontal fold.
On the verso, tapes were placed along the central vertical fold and the left half of the central horizontal fold. The tape carrier has yellowed and detached and the rubber-based adhesive has darkened and migrated into the primary paper support, causing significant yellow/brown staining in areas of tape application. It is also slightly visible on the opposite side of the object.
The laid paper primary support is stiff and discolored overall. There is a tideline through the upper fourth of the document, indicating that the document was wet at some point in the past. The paper below the tideline is more stained and the iron gall ink inscriptions lighter in color than above the tideline, suggesting that free iron ions within the ink solubilized from the inscriptions and migrated throughout the paper support in the area that was wet. The tideline on the recto is more visible on the verso of the object.
There are multiple planar distortions present. These distortion include the multiple folds described above as well as major stiff wrinkles throughout the right half of the document. These wrinkles were present prior to the application of the pressure sensitive tapes. Surface dirt is minor overall, on both the recto and verso.
There are multiple iron gall inks present on the document: the ink(s) on the recto appear similar, but the multiple inscriptions on the verso were likely by different hands, done at different points in time and with different inks. In general, the inks appear to be stable. There is some slight telegraphing through to the verso in areas of heaviest ink application.
