![]() ![]() Some of our most famous records with secret messages are from the Gunpowder Plot. On the right, part of a letter sent from Anne Vaux to Henry Garnett, SP 14/216/2 item 244.Īt The National Archives we have several examples of secret messages written on letters in our collection. On the left a letter sent from Henry Garnett to Ambrose Rookwood alias Thomas Sayer, SP 14/216/2 item 242. Our activity ‘how to make invisible ink’ will replicate how people wrote secret messages millennia ago, with a little bit of help from modern technology! Fruit juices, like lemons, were first used as invisible ink in the Arab world more than 2500 years ago, in 600 AD, and then continued to be used in Europe through to the 18th Century. ![]() Messages would be written in milk, which was invisible, then the person receiving the message would pour coal dust onto the paper and the hidden words would appear on the page. ![]() Ancient Romans, like the poet Ovid advised people on how to use milk to write secret messages in their writings. ![]() Watch the ‘how to make invisible ink’ video on Youtubeĭownload the ‘how to make invisible ink’ activity instruction sheet (PDF, 0.19mb)ĭownload the ‘how to make invisible ink’ activity instruction sheet (Accessible PDF, 0.03mb)Ĭivilisations have been using invisible ink for thousands of years to carry secret messages. In this activity we make ink using lemons, but you can make invisible ink using other citrus fruit like oranges with the same recipe. Welcome to our second activity for British Science Week, how to make invisible ink! We have included written instructions, a ‘how to’ video, and a downloadable activity instruction sheet. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |