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Welcome to Historic Indentures

For over 30 years James Reis has been an avid collector of early American deeds, letters and documents in the Philadelphia area. The pieces in his collection date from circa 1670 through 1900 with the majority from the colonial and early federal period. Created by hand with a quill pen and ink on vellum and parchment in elegant handwriting, they are a work of art.

An indenture is a legal contract for land transactions. In the days when documents were handwritten, two copies were transcribed on the same vellum or parchment. The duplicates were separated by cutting an uneven or “toothed” edge. To confirm authenticity, the two documents could be refitted along the jagged edge like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Truly a Marriage of Art and History the pieces from this collection are suitable for framing and displaying in homes and offices. Law firms, banks, architectural firms, real estate companies, interior decorators and others who appreciate history and art have purchased indentures for decorating their living and working spaces.

The Collections

Robert Morris Collection

Robert Morris was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. He has been referred to as the “Financier of the American Revolution” for almost single handily underwriting the cost of the Revolutionary War and founding the Bank of the United States. James Reis has an extensive collection of deeds, documents and letters signed by or related to this great American Patriot.

Early American Collection

James Reis has acquired hundreds of indentures, deeds, letters and documents from the colonial period through the end of the 19th Century. Included in this collection are a deed for the Graf House where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, another deed for the first official residence of the first U.S. President, deeds signed by decedents of William Penn, early medical diplomas, and documents signed by prominent early American leaders.

Indentures and Deeds Collection

As a realtor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, James Reis had a particular fascination with beautiful old deeds and indentures. Jim has acquired over 1,500 deeds dated from circa 1670 to 1890.

Jim Reis talks about his passion for collecting, researching and history of his historic Early American documents.