laid paper – 5280 Explorer

In Part I of this article, we discussed the forensics of book structure, paper types and how to spot various restoration and repair techniques when authenticating an ancient book. In this article, we step into the world within the paper itself, identifying the craftsman’s watermarks in the pages of my copy of Lane’s Reports, and attempting to “fingerprint” the sheets within that book to the specific screen mould each sheet was produced from. I believe it possible to extend this analysis to “reverse engineer” the original screen moulds used to make each sheet of paper within my book… Continue reading ““Da Vinci Code” Style Forensics: Symbols and Secrets Lurking Within the Pages of an Ancient Law Book (Part II)”

Image Gallery

Temple Church, London

Tombs of Templar Knights in the floor of Temple Church

Middle Temple grounds

Parish church of St Hellier, Jersey

Elizabeth Castle, Jersey

Title page of Richard Lane’s book

Map of southern England and Jersey

Middle Temple Library’s restored copy of “Lane’s Reports”

Stone knight effigies in the floor of the rotunda, Temple Church, London

Richard Lane’s Armorial glass in the windows of Middle Temple Hall. This is different than his Readership armorial panel on the walls below – it was the updated with the Lion by Charles II. The word “miles” means he was a Knight.