Letterlocking: A spiral-locked letter to the Duke of Buckingham, Europe (1624-1625) (UH0080)

Modelled after a woman's spiral-locked letter to the Duke of Buckingham (17/27 February 1624/1625), Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, MS Add. D. 111 fol. 321.
Model found in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries (MIT), Unlocking History Research Group archive, MC 0760.
The Duke of Buckingham received this letter with high built-in security. The letterlocker used a technique we refer to as the spiral lock.
The video shows how a series of margin folds can be used to create a guide for slicing a sword-shaped lock out of one half of a bifolium. A series of roll folds - all done with the lock protruding - makes a long strip, and a final short edge to short edge fold along the vertical axis forms the shape of the letterpacket.
The first slit, made near the bottom edge of the folded packet, allows the lock to pass through all layers. The second slit, made near the top edge of the folded packet, allows the lock to pass through all layers of packet and one layer of the lock. Slit three is made between slits one and two. Slit four is made between slits two and three. Both slits allow the lock to pass through all layers of the substrate, as well as itself. After the locks final pass, the tip of the lock is laid flush against the exterior of the letterpacket, where it is adhered with sealing wax impressed with a seal stamp.
Produced by MIT Video Production. Directed and demonstrated by Jana Dambrogio. Funded by the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries in support of our project, “Unlocking History.” Special thanks to Andrew Honey, Mike Webb, Michelle Chew, Alexandra Franklin, Bodleian Libraries reading room staff, Chris Fletcher, Ayako Letizia, Annie Dunn, Emily Hishta Cohen, MIT Video Production staff, Mary Uthuppuru, Brien Beidler, and Daniel Starza Smith.
Citation information: Authors: Jana Dambrogio and the Unlocking History Research Group. Title: "A spiral-locked letter to the Duke of Buckingham, Europe (1624-1625)," Letterlocking Instructional Videos. Unlocking History number 0080/Letterlocking Unique Video number: 080. Date filmed: September 2016. Duration: 6:28. Date posted: October 2016. Video URL: [Insert URL]. Date accessed: [Date].
Copyright 2016-present. Jana Dambrogio, the Unlocking History Research Group, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). All rights reserved. The following copyrighted material is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License creativecommon.... Contact the MIT Technology Licensing Office for any other licensing inquiries.
NB: Letterlock responsibly. Be mindful of open flames or hot tools.
To find out more about letterlocking, visit letterlocking.org and follow us on social media @letterlocking.
TH-cam URL: bit.ly/BlankMar... or • Letterlocking: A spira...
This video can be found in the playlist: bit.ly/LLintheBod

[@tinahamilton2694]

What a feat! Figuring out how these were done must have required dogged determination. Good for you, and many thanks for a fascinating report.

[@КАА-и3п]

Спасибо

[@s.l.3673]

It's pretty neat. I can comprehend how this could help address security issues like letters sealed in a conventional way be opened illegitimately, and maybe I'm overthinking it, but I don't think it ever resolves an issue in which a letter could be intercepted and never delivered at all, or a fake letter be letterlocked the same way (assuming you have similar seal, fake the handwriting and stationery, which is not an impossibility).

[@julietfischer5056]

Stolen mail is always an issue, even with our modern post offices and certified or registered letters. Same with forgery. The best we can do is make those crimes harder.

[@s.l.3673]

@@julietfischer5056 True enough. Letterlocking is a an artform though, it's beautiful to behold.

[@julietfischer5056]

@@s.l.3673- That it is.

[@QuivaRPG]

I think spiral- and butterfly- locked letters are my favorites. They're just so pretty. The fact that they're secure is a bonus! LOL

[@jukthewise8776]

Thank you! I have seen so many references to letter locking but have never seen it in action. Well done!

[@barzhoumyrdhin2992]

Hello, what kind of paper do you use ? The result is perfect.

[@julietfischer5056]

Looks heavyweight. Over 20 pounds, maybe.

[@johnhunt2390]

Vellum?