Drum before

Drum after

Humidified and stretched to press

before flattening

Parchment cockled from moisture

after flattening

Humidified and flattened under weight

Land Deed before

Folded for many years. This is as far as it would safely open before humidification.

Land Deed after

Land Deed after humidification and flattening

Thomas Jefferson front before

Hard creases from folding. Wax seal lower left

Thomas Jefferson detail

detail of signature

Thomas Jefferson back

back view of hard creases

Thomas Jefferson after

After conservative humidification and flattening. Great care had to be used in flattening due to fragile wax seal lower left

Thomas Jefferson after back

small holes mended with delicate repair tissue

Commission before flattening

Parchment is wrinkled from exposure to moisture.

Commission after flattening

parchment was slowly humidified and pressed under weight

Commission before

Parchment is wrinkled from exposure to moisture

Commission after

Parchment was slowly humidified and pressed under weight.