Stamp Act Era Blue Stamp On 1808 Legal Document?

Hello Everyone,

As part of an inheritance, I have received a very old legal "Indenture" document (not part of the family, just something cool purchased on a trip to England years ago). The document, from England 1808, contains what I have initially identified as a Stamp Act era tax stamp for one pound ten shillings. There is a stamp on one side, and it is backed with a blue square with a pressing in it.

The front stamp has what I believe to be the number 48 and 0 and the letters GR with the crown image.

I would appreciate it if anyone has knowledge about this stamp, what is it's history, and what it might be worth. The Indenture document it is affixed to is very cool as well on animal parchment with signatures with wax and ribbon seals affixed. It was originally folded and so is not in the most perfect shape. The stamp, as the photos show I think is in good shape.

I Thank You all for viewing this! :)

Very typical for the era but nice nevertheless. There are catalogs for these but I don't have any. Perhaps someone with a catalog will jump in.

Hello Billsey and thanks for your reply. :) I hope someone does have a catalog and can reference me to it.

What I do wonder about this is the little piece of silver or lead that is in the center of the stamp. It implies that the whole stamp may have at one time been metal...and what we are seeing in the blue is the impression after the lead has either fallen off or bee removed? Or was there only supposed to be a small piece of metal in there?

What an interesting thing!

You may have missed the "3" centered below the "G" and "R." These reference George the Third, as you probably know. If not, The "R" stands for Rex (King.) As far as I know, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth doesn't bother with a "II" in her signature nor is it placed on current British stamps.

I hope to learn more about what you've presented here. As for the small piece of metal (?) remaining on the seal, could it be wax? And did you see that the seal is marked "1804"?

Hey KGB, great eyes there! I had seen the 4 last night when I was looking at the photo of the stamped area. I did not see the 3 however! So thanks for seeing that! Looking at the seal more closely, I have to say that the little piece on the stamp does indeed look very much like metal.

Just for the sake of interest, because this is kind of cool...here are some pics of the actual Indenture document that this stamp is on.

The small piece of metal (which is most likely tin) is intentional, and that's all there was. it's effectively like a staple (it goes through the parchment, and is sealed down on the back with the other adhesive, which is referred to as a cypher). It's a mechanism to prevent re-use.

p.s. these documents are typically not expensive but they are very popular with real estate and other lawyers as something to frame and put on the wall.

Thanks for the info Paperhistory! I wonder if you, or anyone might have an idea for how to flatten this whole piece out? Kind of off topic I know, but it never hurts to ask. I have done a bit of paper restoration in my time, but never tried to flatten out animal parchment. I know animal parchment will shrink under heat....