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Copyright of Journal of the American Institute for Conservation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The preservation of paper-based archival documents is crucial for safeguarding historical and cultural heritage. Some records possess visually inaccessible text or images because of previous conservation measures, their method of construction, or historic damage. Micro-spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (micro-SORS) has emerged as a promising method for probing below or through opaque material substrates non-invasively. This study explores the potential of micro-SORS to image hidden text and figures in paper-based archival documents, utilizing Raman signals, fluorescence emissions, and overall spectral intensity reflecting also sample absorption. We present case studies involving sealed letters and playing cards from historical collections, demonstrating the efficacy of micro-SORS in identifying pigments and deciphering hidden ink writings. Results show the successful mapping of vermilion pigment in playing cards and reconstruction of hidden iron gall ink text in sealed letters. Chemometric analysis further enhances the visualization of hidden text. Despite challenges such as the absence of Raman signal of the target materials, micro-SORS proves to be a valuable tool for accessing hidden information in paper-based artifacts, aiding in preservation efforts and historical research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)