Brewer's: Diplomatics

The science of palæography—that is, deciphering old charters, diplomas, titles; investigating their authenticity and genuineness, and so on. Papebröch, the Bollandist, originated the study in 1675; but Mabillon, another Bollandist, reduced it to a science in his work entitled De re Diplomatica, 1681. Toustain and Tassin further developed it in their treatise entitled Nouveau Traité de Diplomatique, 1750-1760.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content