Collection Louis de France
Preservation of holdings

In addition to the academic analysis of all documents and the goal of making particularly the written sources digitally accessible through this website, great emphasis is placed on the preservation and conservation of the manuscripts and objects for future generations. Paper – and in some cases parchment – is proverbially known for its patience, but unfortunately this does not apply to its physical durability.

Historic contamination, weaknesses, and damage caused by mechanical strain are usually less problematic, as these can typically be repaired by skilled paper conservators. More serious are documents stored for long periods under poor conditions – such as environments that are too damp, too dry, or too warm, or alongside incompatible materials and substances, or even direct UV exposure. This not only harms the carrier material but also significantly degrades the otherwise resilient iron gall ink or printing ink.

Even under optimal storage conditions, damage can still occur due to the materials used. The decomposition of the writing surface caused by ink corrosion (ink degradation) or the disintegration of poor-quality paper into individual fibres due to ageing (paper decay) can pose major conservation challenges – or in the worst case, result in the complete loss of the source. The same applies in cases of unnoticed mould spores or pests, such as the gray silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudatum), which can spread from a single document to large parts of the collection.

This excursus illustrates that the collection of cultural heritage in the form of historical written sources – especially in private hands – comes with great responsibility. We consider it a duty to store materials archivally in acid-free, buffered folders compliant with ISO 9706 and archival boxes according to ISO 16245-A. Every new item is thoroughly inspected, assessed, and documented before being quarantined separately from the main collection. Based on its condition, the document is then professionally reviewed by a paper conservator, who determines and implements the necessary conservation steps with minimal intervention.

At the end of this process stand cataloguing, archiving, and academic evaluation – and to prevent any potential loss, the documents are digitised both as text and in high-resolution photography.