SOUTH SEA BUBBLE An interesting manuscript D.S. 1p. oblong 8vo., [n.p.], Apr. 15, 1771, a receipt signed by an illiterate James Curzon (who affixes his mark) for "...the Sum of Forty four Pounds, Eight Shillings and Ten Pence Old South Sea Annuities in full for Night part of four Hundred Pounds Old South sea Annuities Given and bequested to me by the Will of Sarah Herring...". The shares in the South Sea Company peaked at £1000 per share in 1720 due to over-speculation and spectacularly crashed to reach a share price of only £150 in a period of one month ruining most of the shareholders. Obviously the only people who would even accept such worthless shares as payment would have to be illiterate. Note the amount of shares was not mentioned in the receipt. Mounted to a larger sheet, moderately toned, otherwise very good. $100-150