Ancient Security - Who Knew?

I am always up for a challenge...

I figure worse case it will provide material for my newsletter. My yoga instructor challenged us to really think about the history of something we take for granted. Since it's bill paying day I chose the envelope. Boring right? Not so fast Snicker Doodles. Let's talk Mary Queen of Scots.

AROUND 2 A.M. on February 8, 1587, Mary Queen of Scots penned a letter to her brother-in-law, King Henri III of France. It would be her last. Six hours later, she was beheaded for treason by order of her cousin, Elizabeth I of England. The letter has since become one of Scotland’s most beloved artifacts, the handwritten pages offering a poignant glimpse of a monarch grappling with her impending execution.

I am not trying to be insensitive but what's the big deal? These are her last words and she wants them to be private and only shared with her brother in law. Problem - Envelopes have not been invented yet. So....

This calls for letter locking the various systems of folds, slits, and wax seals that protected written communication before the invention of the mass-produced envelope. To guard her final missive from prying eyes, the queen used a Butterfly Lock technique. Isn't this ingenious?

You can read the rest of the story HERE  and see more examples but I feel like I need to make something with butterflies. (Judy, maybe this is where your butterflies come in?)

Final Days of my Sale!

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