{
  "schema": "kbatch-declaration-paleography-v1",
  "docId": "declaration-of-independence",
  "ver": "1.0.0",
  "at": "2026-07-24",
  "source": {
    "institution": "National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)",
    "item": "Engrossed parchment copy",
    "location": "Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom",
    "transcript": "https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript",
    "highRes": "https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/downloads"
  },
  "physical": {
    "scribe": "Timothy Matlack",
    "dateEngrossed": "primarily 19 July – 2 August 1776",
    "support": "animal parchment (skin)",
    "dimensions": "~29.5 × 24 in (trimmed)",
    "ink": "iron-gall (originally dark, now heavily faded)",
    "condition": "severe light-induced fading, handling dirt on edges, argon-protected titanium/aluminum encasement"
  },
  "layout": {
    "title": "Monumental centered engrossing hand",
    "body": "Single continuous column",
    "signatures": "Six vertical columns by state (Georgia → New Hampshire)",
    "notable": "John Hancock signature largest and most prominent"
  },
  "restorationNotes": [
    "Digital contrast recovery performed on NARA public-domain scans",
    "Master glyph stream is letter-only (spaces stripped) for grid scoring",
    "Always cross-check critical readings against the official NARA transcript"
  ],
  "methods": {
    "imaging": "NARA high-resolution photography + public downloads",
    "inkAnalysis": "Iron-gall oxidation and light damage documented by NARA conservation",
    "housing": "Current argon-filled encasement designed for ~100-year stability"
  },
  "methodsTable": [
    {
      "method": "Engrossed copy",
      "description": "The official signed parchment produced by Timothy Matlack",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Source of the master glyph stream and all visual restorations"
    },
    {
      "method": "Public-domain imaging",
      "description": "NARA high-resolution scans + Stone 1823 engraving",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Base images for faithful / scholarly / inverse / illuminated treatments"
    },
    {
      "method": "Official transcript",
      "description": "Authoritative text maintained by NARA",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Ground truth for any OCR / reconstruction disputes"
    },
    {
      "method": "Conservation housing",
      "description": "Argon-filled titanium/aluminum case, light & humidity control",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Context for why the original is heavily faded"
    },
    {
      "method": "Light-damage documentation",
      "description": "NARA conservation reports on iron-gall fading",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Explains why digital restoration + letter-only stream were required"
    },
    {
      "method": "Multi-spectral potential",
      "description": "NARA and partners have used advanced imaging",
      "digitalEditionUse": "Future extension: higher-fidelity glyph recovery"
    }
  ],
  "capsule": {
    "scribe": "Timothy Matlack",
    "ink": "iron-gall",
    "support": "parchment",
    "substrate": "parchment",
    "dimensions": "~29.5 × 24 in",
    "source": "NARA engrossed copy",
    "notes": [
      "NARA engrossed transcript · orthographic master stream",
      "Letter-grid master is letter-only (spaces stripped) for scoring",
      "Cross-check critical readings against official NARA transcript"
    ],
    "signatureColumns": "Six vertical columns by state (Georgia → New Hampshire)",
    "rights": "public-domain transcript"
  },
  "compact": {
    "scribe": "Timothy Matlack",
    "ink": "iron-gall",
    "support": "parchment",
    "dimensions": "~29.5 × 24 in",
    "source": "NARA engrossed copy",
    "signatureColumns": "Six vertical columns by state (Georgia → New Hampshire)",
    "notes": [
      "Letter-grid master stream is orthographic order, not stroke path",
      "Public-domain transcript is ground truth for text disputes"
    ]
  },
  "urls": {
    "transcript": "https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript",
    "downloads": "https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/downloads",
    "masterGlyphs": "/data/declaration/master-glyphs.json",
    "play": "/labs/declaration-digital-edition/letter-grid.html",
    "pipe": "/labs/declaration-digital-edition/letter-grid-pipe.html"
  }
}