For sale is a rare and authentic 1758 Dutch court document, an intriguing original legal manuscript from the Netherlands. This handwritten piece, measuring 8.25” x 12.25”, is presented in a period-appropriate frame approximately 16” x 23”. The document, written in ornate 18th-century Dutch script, appears to detail a legal proceeding involving Abraham van Hijffoordt, possibly on behalf of his son, regarding an alleged assault on Jan van Kemper in Rotterdam, dated May 24, 1758. The text mentions a summons by the Prosecutor General, a default judgment, and the petitioner’s intent to present a defense.

Key Features:

• Authenticity: Genuine handwritten document from 1758, reflecting historical legal practices.

• Size: Document: 8.25” x 12.25”; Framed: Approximately 16” x 23”.

• Condition: Document is well-preserved for its age, with expected wear (discoloration, minor tears). Frame has some damage as pictured, including scuffs and minor structural wear, but still enhances display; glass is intact.

• Language: Archaic Dutch, providing a window into historical calligraphy and legal terminology.

• Historical Value: A unique collectible for enthusiasts of European legal history, Dutch heritage, or antique manuscripts.

Perfect For:

• Historians, genealogists, or collectors of rare documents.

• Ideal for display in a home office, study, or museum-

This item is sold as a historical collectible and not as a legally binding document. Handle with care due to its age and fragility. The frame’s damage is visible in the photos and does not detract from the document’s historical significance.

Below is an AI generated translation:

Acted on the 14th of Holland [likely a reference to a legal jurisdiction or date format], Humbly submits with due respect,

and W: Abraham van Hijffoordt, residing

in Rotterdam, there from m:ts: Huijbert van

Hijffoordt, advocate before this court: that this

petitioner aforesaid, son, has unjustly been summoned by

the Prosecutor General over Holland and Westland,

by criminal mandate in The Hague, to be brought before

this court for the reason that the petitioner

does not doubt the assault on the person of

Jan van Kemper on the 24th of May last year,

1758, at the petitioner’s property on the Looygang.

The petitioner began that the aforesaid son

has absented himself for a long detention

peacefully, and is being pursued by the Prosecutor General

against him, proceedings have been conducted by default,

to the extent that a decision by this court has been granted,

which by default and for the benefit of this act

has been given to be executed by the interdiction, that the petitioner

has had the opportunity through various circumstances

to gather evidence, which he believes will greatly

benefit his defense of his word,

and which he therefore, out of particular concern

and sincerity, intends to use to address this matter…”