ORIGINAL AND AUTHENTIC UK INDENTURE ON VELLUM FROM 1848 - 164 YEARS OLD!

THIS CONTRACT IS STILL IN A VERY GOOD CONDITION (FOLDED) and consist of 2 large (70 cm x 60 cm) sheets of vellum, joined by two small red wax seals, dated 23 March 1848, regarding a debt of 300 pounds.

There are three blue ‘stamps’ for £3, £1 and 15/-

 Still in a very good condition for its age with the usual vertical and horizontal folds. 

SIZE: approx. 70cm X 60cm

An indenture is a legal contract between two parties particularly for indentured labour or a term of apprenticeship but also for certain land transactions. The term comes from the medieval English "indenture of retainer" a legal contract written in duplicate on the same sheet, with the copies separated by cutting along a jagged (toothed, hence the term "indenture") line so that the teeth of the two parts could later be refitted to confirm authenticity. Each party would then retain a part. 

Vellum is a translucent material produced from the skin of a young animal, that has been soaked, limed and dried under tension on a stretching frame. The distinction between vellum and leather is that the former is not processed using tanning.

                                                (actual document much more sharper than the photos)

Original separate journal entry in ink on paper setting out the debt, included in this auction