To
ARCTICA RECOVERY EXPEDITION
Qanik Bay, Northwest Territories

Fm
DECKERD MANUSCRIPTS
Antique Evaluation & Restoration
San Francisco, California, USA

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We thrill to tell you that, despite their very poor condition, we have finally succeeded in reconstructing most of the "Perdita" pages you sent us.

As you know, the pages suffered from two seemingly insurmountable problems: the pressure of the ice had smashed the pages into one another, and water seepage had smeared the ink.

Fortunately, the pages were thick enough that each could be sliced down the middle. Then we worked outward to obtain a mirror image of the handwriting.

I only tell you this to apologize for not supplying you the information earlier. The process all had to be done by hand. Believe me, we understand how urgently you need information about the "Four Without Graves."

As soon as a page can be read, we will transcribe the text and fax it to you. Expect the first printout shortly.