Collection of British indentures
Collection — Box: 10 folders
Identifier: MSP 105
Scope and Contents
The Collection of British Indentures (1607-1769) documents 17th and 18th century British land laws and the transfer or renting of land between individuals and/or family members. All of the indentures are handwritten in English on vellum, which was standard for legal documents during this time. The indentures were written during the reigns of eight monarchs and exemplify British land law during the 17th and 18th centuries. Most of the indentures have either a blue Sixpenny Royal tax stamp or a Schilling Sixpence tax stamp that are sometimes punched with a tin alloy tab to prevent the reuse of the stamp. Some of the indentures have red wax seals bearing the impression of the lawyers’ or parties’ signet rings to demonstrate its authenticity. Postage stamps are present on some of the indentures, as well as addresses and signatures of the parties. Copper plate engravings have been used for some of the indentures to create an Armorial heading at the beginning of the indenture; the engraved indentures in this collection all include the arms of the Royal Order of the Garter. This collection also demonstrates the development of English court-hand during the 17th and 18th centuries, a useful collection for anyone interested in paleography or British land law during this time.
Dates
- 1607 - 1769
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Access Information
This collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Materials in this collection are in the public domain. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.
Extent
0.25 Cubic Feet (Ten flat folders)
Abstract
The Collection of British Indentures documents 17th and 18th century British land laws and the transfer or renting of land between individuals and/or family members. Almost all British legal land indentures (including the indentures in this collection) were handwritten on vellum and in English by the late Middle Ages.
Acquisition Information
Probably purchased by Eleanore Cammack from Dawson's Book Shop sometime during the 1940s-1950s. Cammack was hired in 1929 as an order librarian at Purdue and became Head of the Ordering Department in 1955.
Processing Information
All of the indentures have been individually placed in acid-free folders and housed in a flat case file.
- Title
- Collection of British indentures
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Kristin Leaman
- Date
- 04/04/2013
- Description rules
- Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
- Edition statement
- Second edition
Revision Statements
- 2020-04-29: Collection description updated by Adelle Rogers.
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
Contact:
504 W. State Street
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu
504 W. State Street
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu