WORTHINGTON FINE ART GALLERIES

A beautifully-preserved 1792 handwritten British indenture on vellum. Though most indentures of this time period were legal contracts binding indentured servants, this particular piece seems to be the will of a man named Charles Cotton. A blue cypher seal from the reign of King George III sits in the upper left corner. The piece is written on vellum from the “Stationary Office, Palace Yard.” Signatures and wax seals depicting the busts of each signee, including Cotton, are lined up across the base of the page. A wavy line is cut across the top of the page; this is because these documents were written in duplicate on the same sheet, separated by cutting along a jagged (toothed, hence the term “in_dent_ure”) line, then lined back up together to ensure authenticity. The indenture is presented behind glass in a thin black wooden frame. A wire is attached to the verso of the piece for hanging.  Document is in Very Good condition – with some yellowing and creasing/folding across the page, consistent with age. Measures: 31.5″ W x 26.6″ H x 1.0″ D.

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