Description:

William Penn
Pennsylvania, April 20, 1682
William Penn MDS Selling 1,000 Acres in Pennsylvania for Less Than a Penny an Acre!
DS
A 1682 indenture signed by Pennsylvania founder William Penn (1644-1718). 1p of vellum, measuring 21.25" x 13.75", Pennsylvania, dated April 20, 1682. Signed "Wm Penn", the document is an agreement between Penn and John Sheires of Grindleton, in which Penn, in receipt of 5 shillings, granted Sheires 1000 acres of land in Pennsylvania. With a blue paper seal and pink ribbon adhered at the left margin. Docketed on verso. The indenture has stiff flattened folds and creasing. Some holes and separations at the folds have been repaired on verso, with minimal loss to text. There is a tear at the bottom right corner. Toning and soiling throughout. Some staining around the signature. Bold signature has been re-inked at a later date.

On March 4, 1681, King Charles II granted a land charter of 45,000 square miles to William Penn, corresponding to parts of modern day Pennsylvania and Delaware. Just thirteen months after the subsequent colony of Pennsylvania, or "Penn's Woods," was established, William Penn sold these 1000 acres to Sheires. The royal land grant made William Penn the largest private landowner in the world and enabled him to fashion a true "peaceable kingdom" in Pennsylvania. Penn's policies of religious tolerance, and of maintaining good relations with local Native Americans, attracted religious refugees and settlers alike. Yet Penn's charter violated the terms of an earlier charter granted to Lord Baltimore for the colony of Maryland, and conflict between Penn and Baltimore would continue for generations.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 21.25" x 13.75"
  • Medium: DS

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October 30, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000