n.The study of records that identifies their generic characteristics, independent of their manner of creation, the nature of the individual or organization that created them, or the social system in which they were created.
Citations
Duranti 1998, p. 31 The application of [general diplomatics] to infinite individual cases constitutes the function of diplomatic criticism, that is of special diplomatics. Theory (general diplomatics) and criticism (special diplomatics) influence each other. The latter, analyzing specific situations, uses the former; the former guides and controls and is nourished by the latter.
