Various possible ways for determining the age and therefore the authenticity of paper are described. Identification of the fibre and material content of paper as well as that of the materials used on it, plus a knowledge of when materials were first introduced is needed. The first example discussed concerned a label on a violin said to have been made by Stradivarius (1644-1737). The label contained wood pulp and the first wood fibres were used in the early 19th century. In the so-called Hitler Diaries artificial whiteners, fibres of synthetic polymers (polyamid 6-perlon 1938 patent); polyethylene terephthlate (patent 1941) were found in pages dated before their synthesis. The 3rd example concerned an orchestral score, alleged to be an unknown schubert symphony. In correction rutile titanium oxide (1941) and poly-iso-butylmethacrylate (1930s) were found. Clearly the manuscript could not be an original. Photographs, spectra.