This handwritten land deed from the 16th century came through the Preservation unit to have a new custom box created. The 1547 deed for parcels of land in England was sealed with a seal as big as our Conservator’s hand. Want a closer look? Materials like this are available to view upon request in the Reading Room locating in Norlin Library.
Another very special item that needed a custom enclosure, this 1871 Ethiopian Magic Scroll is made of very tightly bound goat skin and handwritten in red and black ink. The text is in Ge’ez, an ancient South Semitic language and member of the Ethiopian Semitic group. The language originated in southern regions of Eritrea and the northern region of Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa. It later became the official language of the Kingdom of Aksum and Ethiopian imperial court.
Thanks to Special Collections and Preservation for making such unique materials available!
The University of Colorado Boulder Libraries will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Archives on June 6, 2018. This is story #58 in our series: 100 Stories for 100 Years from the Archives!