Hi Andrew, Actually, light, especially UV light does ablate ink, not to mention what it could do to the paper. The effect is minute, but over hundreds of years, it is real. I purchased a 3 megapixel camera with real zoom (not just the fake digital zoom) and macro focus for close up copy. It is great for such instances. I try to find enough natural subdued light that I can turn off the flash and use a tripod for time exposure if required. You can take as many images as you want for free and can store the images on CD's which do not take up as much space as paper copies. Today, every person interested in Genealogy should have one if they can afford it. Another great tool is a GPS system. Street names and numbers change over time, but the global co-ordinates remain. I purchased the cheapest one that had output for a laptop PC so that I could connect it to map software. That way it also helps me find places. Ray > > Re: [HWE] Gaspard DE COLIGNY > From: "Andrew Sellon" <[email protected]> > Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 10:14:44 -0000 > To: [email protected] > <SNIP> > in Edinburgh. She refused me permission to photo-copy it, for fear that the > harmful rays might spoil the document! (I had travelled up to Scotland with > my portable photo-copier in the hope of finding just such a treasure there > or at Arniston House). <SNIP>