ABSTRACT
This entry presents the science of diplomatics, briefly describing its history, its theoretical content, and its methodology. Comparing classic diplomatics with modern diplomatics, it discusses the concepts of authenticity, originality, and record. Then, it outlines the building blocks of the diplomatic body of knowledge, that is, the context, the act, the persons, the procedure, the documentary form, and the archival bond; and comments on the process of diplomatic criticism and on the usefulness of diplomatics as a discipline.
