NO way the Declaration of Independence is an original. A piece of paper can' last 230 years. Do You agree?

Question

There is no way a piece of paper can last 230 years, period. I have old report cards that are 20 years old from the 7th grade that are nearly decomposed (all A’s & 1 B+ on the report cards). How can people possibly the original copy is on display? I challenge anyone to put up a valid argument a piece of paper would not decompose over 230 years.

Answer 1

I don't know why your report cards that are only 20 years old are nearly decomposed. I have a report card that is 45 years old and it is ok. And it hasn't even been stored particularly well. I have two books that are over 100 years old, and again, without even being stored properly they are nowhere near decomposing. I have a charcoal drawing that is about 3 feet by 4 feet that was done in 1972 on paper just slightly heavier than newsprint and it was rolled up and standing against the wall in my mother's basement for over 30 years and it just showed up again last summer when we sorted out her house and it is ok - not perfect, but certainly ok. Archaeologists have found parchments that are several hundred years old. There are manuscripts in existence written on paper and dating from the 9th century.

I don't know if that Declaration of Independence IS the original, but it is certainly possible that it is.

Answer 2

Dude, I am an old man. At arms reach is a filing cabinet which contains family documents, some well over 100 years of age. I have photographs over 60, and regardless of what you might think, the Dead Sea Scrolls are well over the 230 years you are concerned about. Consider the original Gutenberg Bibles, the shroud of Turin and countless other archives.

The original Declaration and Constitution do, in fact, exist. They are displayed in sealed cases that have been purged with inert gas. Inert gas prevents oxygen from reacting with the paper and or ink. The documents, as they are currently stored, will last a very long time, at least twice as long as they have already survived.

If you think 230 years is impossible I invite you to check out the following.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

National Archives
National archive of the United Kingdom; holds over 1000 years of historic documents for use by researchers. Formerly the Public Records Office.

How many more examples would you care to discuss?

Answer 3

A piece of paper can last 2000 years. I've got books on my shelves from the 1600s.

Paper can be made in different ways and from different materials.

Paper like newsprint has to last only a few days so it's made of wood pulp and bleached with chlorine.

Fine quality paper designed to last for many years is made of linen rags and produced in a way that will leave no harmful chemicals in it.

If I'm printing on my computer printer material for internal circulation I'll print it on very cheap paper. If I'm printing for archival purposes I'll print it on top quality archival paper.

Incidentally old paper from 200 years ago was generally very good quality. The weak point was often the ink. Laswer printed material on top quality paper is probably the most durable printing yet produced.

Answer 4

Sure it can, if kept from insects, moisture and heat and light. There are older documents in existence, including a Guttenberg Bible from the 1600s.
I have letters from my attic from the 1800's that are still clearly legible. The attic was dry and dark and cool and the bugs missed them!
My report cards from the 1960s are in pristine condition, just like my grandmother's birth certificate from 1875 Ireland.
Where the heck do you keep your old papers?
if you don't believe it's real, go check it out for yourself, Thomas!:)

Answer 5

Thats not correct. The declaration was written on hemp paper, it is extremely more durrable than what your report cards were printed on. The declaration is kept in one of the cleanest environments on earth, shielded from contaminants, moisture, and UV light, it is also a little known fact that George Washington coated it with some of his jesus juice, leading to him be called the father of our country.

Answer 6

It is possible if the paper is kept in good enough condition, not stuffed smewhere, but in an airtight container. There are probably many copies for many different museums, but only one real one which is probably held in the white house.

~<*))><

Answer 7

did you use preservatives on your report card?

Answer 8

You are an idiot go back to your cage