Stamps Act 1697

XVI. In case Stamps altered, Persons having stamped Vellum, &c. by them not ingrossed, in 60 Days after Proclamation, may bring the same to the Head Office in London, and Commissioners to deliver them the like Quantity new stamped, &c. without Fee.

Penalty; Stamped Vellum, &c. not brought within the Time, declared useless. Matters ingrossed thereon to be of no Effect, and to incur Penalty.

Provided always and be it further enacted That as often as His Majesty His Heirs or Successors shall think fit to alter [X1 or renew] the said Marks or Stamps or any of them it shall be lawful for all Persons who shall at that Time have in their Custody or Possession any Velum Parchment or Paper marked with the Stamp or Stamps which shall be so altered or renewed and upon which none of the Matters or Things hereby charged shall be ingrossed or written at any Time within the Space of Sixty Days after such Intention of renewing or altering shall be published by Proclamation to bring or send such Velum Parchment or Paper unto the said Commissioners to the Head Office in London or Westminster or to such other Officers as shall be appointed in that Behalf and the said Commissioners and Officers respectively are hereby required to deliver or cause to be delivered unto the several Persons who shall so bring and deliver any Quantity of Velum Parchment or Paper the like Quantity of Velum Parchment or Paper and as good in Quality stamped with such new Stamp or Stamps without demanding or taking directly or indirectly for the same any Sum of Money or other Consideration whatsoever under the Penalty or Forfeiture for every Offence One hundred Pounds to be sued for recovered and divided in such Manner as the other Penalties in this Act relating to the Duties of Velum Parchment and Paper are directed to be sued for recovered and divided and in case any Person shall neglect or refuse within the Time aforesaid to bring or cause to be brought unto the said Commissioners or Officers as aforesaid any such Velum Parchment or Paper the same is hereby declared to be of noe other Effect or Use than if it had never been stamped and that all Matters or Things [X1 which] shall after, that Time be ingrossed or written thereon shall be of noe other Effect than if they had been ingrossed or written on Velum Parchment or Paper not marked or stamped at all and all Persons who ingross or write any the Matters or Things hereby charged on such Vellum Parchment or Paper after the said Time shall forfit and suffer as herein before is enacted for Persons writing or ingrossing on Velum Parchment or Paper not marked or stamped.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: the O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]