300-Year-Old Sealed And ‘Locked’ Letter Is Finally Opened


Three hundred years ago, before there was access to high-tech security systems and passwords, writers often struggled to keep their thoughts and dreams in their letters, private.

A popular method to keep things on the down-low was via a technique called letter locking. It was basically intricately folding a sheet of paper in order to become its own envelope. Archaeologists were presented with a challenge when 577 locked letters delivered were found in a trunk of undelivered mail.

The letters never reached their final recipients, and conservators didn’t want to damage them by opening them. A team has found a way to read one of the letters without breaking the seal. This would be done by using computer algorithms and a highly sensitive X-ray scanner. The researchers then used this to virtually unfold the unopened letter.

“This algorithm takes us right into the heart of a locked letter,” said a research team member.

“Sometimes the past resists scrutiny. We could simply have cut these letters open, but instead we took the time to study them for their hidden, secret, and inaccessible qualities. We’ve learned that letters can be a lot more revealing when they are left unopened.”

This technique revealed that the contents of a letter were dated back to July 31st, 1697. The contains of the letter were a request from Jacques Sennacques to his cousin. He was a French merchant in The Hague, who’d sent for a certified copy of death notice.

Image Source – CNN

The letter is roughly translated from French to English. There is some missing that was likely due to wormholes in the paper.

Dear sir & cousin,

It has been a few weeks since I wrote to you in order to ask you to have drawn up for me a legalized excerpt of the death of sieur Daniel Le Pers, which took place in The Hague in the month of December 1695, without hearing from you. This is f…g I am writing to you a second time in order to remind you of the pains that I took on your behalf. It is important to me to have this extract you will do me a great pleasure to procure it for me to send me at the same time news of your health of all the family.

I also pray that God maintains you in His Sainted graces & covers you with the blessings necessary to your salvation. Nothing more for the time being, except that I pray you to believe that I am completely, sir and cousin, your most humble & very obedient servant,

Jacques Sennacques

This letter gives us a fascinating insight into the lives of ordinary people back in the day. A snapshot of the early world, if we may. So intriguing!

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