Robin,
When you're marking original documents or original wrappers and don't want to make any permanent, irreversible mark, a soft pencil, 2B or softer, is best, because it makes a good black mark without you having to press hard. If you are labelling up storage boxes there's no reason not to use permanent ink marking, I would have thought, and I don't think fading should be much of a problem.
Christopher
Christopher Marsden
Museum Archivist
V&A Museum Archives, Blythe House, 23 Blythe Road, London W14 0QF
tel: 020 7602 8832; fax: 020 7602 0980; e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>> "R.H.Wiltshire" <[log in to unmask]> 11/10/2000 09:59:44 >>>
Dear all,
A fairly basic query. When labelling storage boxes with reference
codes, what preferences do people have in terms of using either
pencil or ink? I'm thinking long-term legibility here, and read
somewhere (can't remember where) that soft(ish) lead pencil
markings are better because they won't fade. Is this true? Is the
ink in the sort of pens that Preservation Equipment and
Conservation Resources sell as long-lasting as the companies
claim?
As ever, all thoughts gratefully received. Please reply on list.
Thanks.
Robin
Robin Wiltshire
Archivist
National Centre for English Cultural Tradition
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TN
Phone: 0114 2220195
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