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1912 KANSAS MORTGAGE ASSIGNMENT - EMBOSSED NOTARY SEAL - WOODSON COUNTY
An elegant piece of early 20th century Kansas legal history featuring a prominent embossed notary seal and handwritten signatures documenting a $700 assignment.
DOCUMENT DETAILS:- Date: State of Kansas, Woodson County, March 22, 1912- Document Type: Notarized Mortgage Assignment- Amount: $700- Assignee: W.F. Chapin- Notary: George R. Chapin, Notary Public- Size: 8.5" x 10"- Features: Embossed Notary Seal- Signatures: Handwritten signatures of Executors and Notary- Condition: Very Good
VISUAL FEATURES:
The document features a beautiful embossed notary seal - the raised impression created by the notary's seal press remains visible and tactile over 112 years later. These embossed seals photograph beautifully and are highly sought after by collectors of legal documents.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
LEGAL ASSIGNMENTS:An assignment is a legal document transferring rights, property, or obligations from one party to another. This $700 assignment (approximately $22,000 in today's dollars) represented a substantial financial transaction in 1912 rural Kansas.
NOTARY PUBLIC TRADITION:Notaries public have authenticated legal documents since medieval times. By 1912, the notary seal - especially the embossed variety - served as proof against forgery and provided legal weight to important transactions.
George R. Chapin's embossed seal connects this document to a specific individual who held the public trust to authenticate legal instruments in Woodson County.
WOODSON COUNTY, KANSAS:Woodson County, in southeastern Kansas, was established in 1855 and named after abolitionist Daniel Woodson. By 1912, it was an established agricultural county with small towns and family farms.
Legal documents like this were essential for property transfers, estate settlements, and financial transactions in rural communities where personal relationships and legal formality coexisted.
$700 IN 1912 CONTEXT:$700 was a significant sum in 1912:- Average annual wage: approximately $600-800- A modest house: $1,000-2,000- A Model T Ford: $600
This assignment likely involved:- Property transfer or mortgage- Estate settlement- Business transaction- Loan collateral
CHAPIN FAMILY CONNECTION:The notary (George R. Chapin) and assignee (W.F. Chapin) share a surname, suggesting this was a family transaction - perhaps estate-related or involving family property transfers common in early 20th century rural communities.
EMBOSSED SEAL COLLECTIBILITY:Embossed notary seals are highly prized by collectors because:- They're tangible, three-dimensional- They photograph beautifully- They can't be photocopied- They represent authentic period security measures- They connect documents to specific individuals
HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURES:Multiple period signatures by executors and the notary provide authentic personal touches and potential genealogical interest for researchers.
CONDITION NOTES:Very good condition for 112-year-old legal document. Paper clean and intact. Embossed seal clear and prominent. All handwritten text legible. Signatures bold. Light age-appropriate handling. See photos for complete assessment.
PROVENANCE:From a private collection of 19th and early 20th century American ephemera.
Perfect for:✓ Legal document collectors✓ Embossed seal enthusiasts✓ Kansas history and genealogy✓ Notary public history✓ Woodson County research✓ Early 20th century legal instruments✓ Chapin family genealogy✓ Assignment and property transfer documentation
A beautiful example of early 20th century legal documentation with the prized feature of an intact embossed notary seal.
Ships flat in rigid mailer with archival protection.
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