**Originally Listed At $500**

Europe, United Kingdom, 1757 CE (30th year of the reign of George II). Handwritten on vellum and stamped, this is an indenture, a contract recording a lease between Charles Norfield, yeoman, and Roger Idle, yeoman, in the County of York (modern day Yorkshire). Charles paid Roger 2 shillings for a year-long lease. This is signed by Charles, with an impression left behind where his wax seal once was. On the back are two hand-written notes describing how the indenture was registered at Beverley and who delivered it. Size: 19.1" W x 12.5" H (48.5 cm x 31.8 cm)

On the back of the page is a stamp of King George III from the Stamp Act of 1765 (historians of the American War of Independence will immediately perk up their ears). The Arago project at the Smithsonian describes this stamp: "The embossed revenue stamp could be impressed upon ordinary paper; however, it was not possible to impress the stamp on vellum. Instead, for documents prepared on vellum, the revenue stamp was impressed upon either beige or dark blue paper, which had been glued and stapled to the vellum. The back of the staple was covered with a cypher bearing the Coat of Arms of George III, probably to prevent reuse of the embossed stamp. These cyphers are thought to be the inspiration for the first adhesive postage stamps."

Provenance: Ex-Hagar Collection

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#120760

Ink is slightly faded by very readable, with obvious fold marks and slight wear where it has been handled. Wax seal is lost.