In an attempt to evaluate the effects of a variety of preservation treatments, the properties of red deer skin were monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Changes in the stability of the collagen fiber network in skin were evident on treatment with all preservatives tested apart from the arsenic soap. The long-term changes that these treatments may cause were examined when the treated skins were subjected to an accelerated aging process. The consequences of treatment upon the structure of skin, for both immediate and long-term stability, are discussed.