Unlocking History Number (UH#)

UH0061

Original

Empress Maria Theresa's Letter to Cardinal Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi

Model and research notes

MIT Libraries, Unlocking History Research Group archive, MC0760, Box 26, 52.

Letterlocking Unique Video Number(s) (LUV #s) & Instructional Video(s) URL

LUV061        https://youtu.be/W9IQP93tzFU  

Instructional video info transcription

Forthcoming

Letterlocking category Number (LC #)

LC16L

Letterlocking format Number (LF #)

4RXW 

Security score

Low

Assessment of Confidence in assigning LC#

Attested

Substrate

Paper

Dimensions

Forthcoming

Opened (in mm):    

H: 374mm x W: 245mm

Letterpacket (in mm):

H: 103mm x W: 194mm

Manifestation

Opened

Distinctive letterlocking style(s)

Two-piece lock-O

Locking Mechanism

Tuck

Security enhancements

Authenticated covered seal

Letterlocking category formula (shorthand)

LC16 

Fold + Tuck + Slit/Hole + Adhere + Lock-O 

(F + T + S/H + A + LO)

Letterlocking manipulation sequence (shorthand)

Forthcoming

Locking instructions

Forthcoming

Images 

Forthcoming

Foldable(s)

Forthcoming

Step-by-steps 

Forthcoming

Substrate map

Forthcoming

Virtual unfolding results

NA

Manipulations

Forthcoming

Writing: Margin folds, Mourning Stationery

Postal: NA

Opening: Tears, Seal tears 

Filing (Storage, Display): NA

Repair: NA

Damage

Silverfish grazing

Features

Dirt on panels/ in crease

Radiating wrinkles

Wrinkles

Article(s)

2014. Letterlocking: The Art & Security of Letter writing in Book Arts, Arts du Livre Canada, Vol.5 (2014): 2. 21–23. 

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.

Citation for the letter(s)

UH0061

Original 

Empress Maria Thérèsa of Austria to His Eminence Cardinal Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi (December 17, 1775). Boncompagni Ludovisi Archive (Villa Aurora), Rome, Italy.

Model

MIT Libraries, Unlocking History Research Group archive, MC0760, Box Box 26, 52.

Video

LUV061

Jana Dambrogio and the Unlocking History Research Group, “Empress Maria Theresa’s letter to Cardinal Ignazio Boncompagni Ludovisi Austria (17 December 1775).” Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 0061/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 0061. Filmed: December 2015. Duration: 4:32. Posted: March 2016.

URL: https://youtu.be/W9IQP93tzFU. Accessed March 4, 2025.