This is a review of 190 years of literature on copper and its alloys. It integrates information on pigments, corrosion and minerals, and discusses environmental conditions, conservation methods, ancient and historical technologies.

Over the past decade the Metal Unit of the Material Culture Section, Archaeology Research Division, Canadian Parks Service, has maintained a reference file identifying marks found on metal artifacts. This document is a selection of marks on file that relate primarily to tableware items, from the late 18th century to about 1900.