Join our conservator, Mito Matsumaru, in the Royal Library and learn about some of the delicate repairs undertaken on an original manuscript by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, purchased by Prince Albert for the Royal Collection in 1840.

This fragile manuscript, a dramatic oratorio known as The Duty of the First Commandment, was penned by a young, precocious Mozart in 1766. Mozart used iron-gall ink – an ink dating back to the 4th century. Prized for its permanence, it was commonly used to write the text of manuscripts throughout medieval and early modern Europe. But its durability comes with a downside: iron-gall ink is corrosive and can ‘eat’ through paper, leading to losses and cracks over time.

Watch this film to learn how our conservator carefully repaired areas of loss using specially toned Japanese tissue paper, pre-coated with adhesive, and discover some of the mysterious revisions to Mozart’s musical score that she uncovered along the way. This meticulous but subtle technique ensured that the manuscript’s authenticity and historical integrity have been thoughtfully preserved.