When was Jean Mabillon’s De Re Diplomatica published?

Jean Mabillon’s seminal work, De Re Diplomatica, was published in 1681, with a supplement following in 1704.1

This foundational text established the principles for verifying the authenticity and dating of medieval manuscripts, effectively creating the science of diplomatics—the critical study of formal historical documents—and the field of paleography. By providing a rigorous methodology for distinguishing between genuine and forged records, Mabillon transformed the study of historical documents into a reputable scientific discipline.12