EXAMINATION OF THE FAPEE.

21

that period.1 Sand continued in general use as a blotting
agent, however, until well into last century, and is still
used in out-of-the-way places.

Water Marks. -Important evidence as to the genuine-
ness of a document has frequently been afforded by the
character of the water mark in the paper. Although
«omo of the earliest papers show no water marks, the use
of such special devices was adopted as a distinctive mark
at an early date. *

1%. 0.

Fig. 10.

A very interesting collection of the old water marks
on papers in the Record Office was made by Richard
Lemon, many of which have been publi«hod. The writer
is indebted to Dr. Henry Scott for permission to reproduce
the accompanying specimens. The earliest water mark
in the Lemon eollectiotl is the stag's head (Fig. 9), which
is a tough paper of the year 1340 ; this is only 39 years
later than the earliest known water mark. The duck
1 Hiatvrical Document*, p. 58.