Unlocking History Number (UH#)

UH0028

Original

John Donne's triangle-locked letter to Sir Robert Cotton

Model and research notes

MIT Libraries, Unlocking History Research Group archive, MC0760, Box 17.

Letterlocking Unique Video Number(s) (LUV #s) & Instructional video URLs

LUV028 alt ending https://youtu.be/eOAmh95hp5M

LUV029 https://youtu.be/Zq_7WcwS9Yg?si=qYVjRudT4sjGFHKU

Instructional video info transcription

Forthcoming

Letterlocking category Number (LC #)

LC23H

Letterlocking format Number (LF #)

4RW

Security score

High

Assessment of Confidence in assigning LC#

Attested

Substrate

Paper

Dimensions

Forthcoming

Opened (in mm): H: 295 mm x W: 404 mm

Letterpacket (in mm): H: 75mm x W: 102mm

Manifestation

Opened

Distinctive letterlocking style(s)

Triangle Lock-SU

Possible oculus lock

Possible done-in-one lock

Locking Mechanism

Lock

Security enhancements

Authenticated exposed oculus lock

Letterlocking category formula (shorthand)

LC23

Fold + Slit/Hole + Adhere + Lock-SU

(F + S/H + A + LSU)

Letterlocking manipulation sequence (shorthand)

Forthcoming

Locking instructions

Bifolium fold, short-edge to short-edge fold, unfold, gatefold from short edges, short-edge to short-edge fold, slit perpendicular with fore-edge,

oculus lock-O, adhere.

Images

Forthcoming

Foldable(s)

Forthcoming

Step-by-steps

Forthcoming

Substrate map

Forthcoming

Virtual unfolding results

Manipulations

Forthcoming

Writing: Vigule

Postal: NA

Opening: Tears

Filing (Storage, Display): Letter book hinged in, sewing holes

Repair: Mends, triangle cut out insert made bottom two back, gutter slits mended

Damage

Features

Dirt on panels/ in crease

Radiating wrinkles

Article(s)

2023. Daniel Starza Smith & Jana Dambrogio. Letterlocking: securing correspondence before envelopes in Routledge Encyclopedia of the Renaissance World. Lauren Shohet, subject editor.

Book

Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, and the Unlocking History Research Group. Letterlocking, The Hidden History of the Letter. Cambridge and London: MIT Press, 2025.

Authors: Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, and the Unlocking History Research Group. Title: ""John Donne's triangle-locked letter to Sir Robert Cotton, alt ending 1, England (c. 1602),"" Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 0028/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 028. Date filmed: February 2015. Duration: 3:38. Posted: May 2016. Video URL: [Insert URL]. Date accessed: [Date].

Citation information

UH0028

Original

John Donne to Sir Robert Cotton, England (February 20, 1602), British Library, Cotton MS Cleopatra F. VII, fols. 293–294.

Model

MIT Libraries, Unlocking History Research Group archive, MC0760, Box 17.

Video

LUV 028

Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, and the Unlocking History Research Group, “John Donne's triangle-locked letter to Sir Robert Cotton, Alt. Ending 1, England (1602),” Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 0028/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 028. Filmed: February 2015. Duration: 3:38. Posted: May 2016. URL: https://youtu.be/eOAmh95hp5M. Accessed: March 4, 2025.

LUV 029

Jana Dambrogio, Daniel Starza Smith, and the Unlocking History Research Group, “John Donne’s triangle-locked letter to Sir Robert Cotton, England (1602).” Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 0029/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 029. Filmed: February 2015. Duration: 3:20. Posted: May 2016. URL: https://youtu.be/Zq_7WcwS9Yg. Accessed March 4, 2025.