A rare copy of the 13th Amendment signed by President Abraham Lincoln has been restored for viewing at an Illinois museum.

Originally made of animal skin, which creased and wrinkled causing some of the original ink to flake away, the almost 147-year-old document signifying the end of slavery is one of at least 14 duplicate copies of the amendment signed by Lincoln and most other lawmakers who voted for it.

Prior to its preservation, the document was too fragile to display, but it will soon be available for all to see.

Graphic Conservation Co., which restored the document at no charge to the state, will turn it over to museum officials at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois on Thursday.

It will be on permanent display starting in February.

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(Photo: wikicommons)