Seventeenth and eighteenth century recoveries, deeds, and acts of Parliament written on vellum and carrying royal portraits and exquisite highlighting have been of interest to me for many years. I inherited a few 17th century documents, but I have been fortunate to know dealers and collectors who have been willing to locate special original and early documents for my collection. Let me share four of them with you.
The first document dates to the reign of Charles II. The latin script is unfortunate, but the early portrait of Charles II is wonderful. The decorative heading paneling is exquisite.
The second document is a rare document. It is a document issued by THE SONS OF LIBERTY who governed England from the time of Charles I’s beheading and Cromwell’s assuming power. Note there is no seal because there was no siiting head of state. This document is in excellent condition with a great deal of free had decoration called plombago. Note that it is written in English rather than in Latin as are the royal documents during the reign of the Stuart kings.
The 1699 Queen Anne document is outstanding. The portrait of an early Queen Anne is clear and beautiful. But the spectacular highlight all around the document is some of the nicest I have ever seen on a late Stuart document. Beautiful.
The George II document is in perfect condition. It dates to 1725 and has a spectacular image of the king a wonderful highlighting. This document is an Act of Parliament carries its Great Seal of the United Kingdom with its original tin protector. This document was written fifty years before the American Revolutionary War, and the document is taking on a totally different : English, more modern script, and a totally different style of highlighting. I think it is absolutely beautiful.
All four are to be framed soon. I have about 60 period documents which I really love. My attorney friends always want me to sell one or two of them so they can decorate the law offices in great style. Enjoy them. I think they are works of art.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
