Pirate Letters of Marque

Description

Small Version: This Letters of Marque was based on images of the real prop from the pirates movie and the original that it was based on from King William III of England. It features a portrait of George I of England. The text was then typed in using a calligraphy font.

The document is printed in brown sepia tones onto an 8 x 10.5 inch piece of natural parchment. We then add the small 1 x 1.25 inch blue paper tag with a gold foil crown and King George I’s initials (G.R. = George Rex) seen on the upper left. Lastly, Lord Cutler Beckett’s red “B” faux wax seal near his name and King George’s “crown” green faux wax seal near his name make this document complete. We have darkened the edges with tea stain, and adhered the parchement to a letter sized dark brown piece of paper. It is folded into thirds and then banded with another thin dark brown strip which has the East India Company’s logo in gold foil just like the blue paper tag of King George’s.

We will personalize this with any name you like for the Captain. The pictures show the one we have made into a birthday invitation (available for orders of 12 or more). If you order less than 12, the text you will receive is this:

“To our trusty and well beloved Capt. Robert Kidd, Greeting: whereas we are informed, that wicked and ill-disposed persons, against the law of nations, commit many and great piracies, robberies and depredations on the seas to the great hindrance and discouragement of trade and navigation, now know ye, that we being desirous to prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and as much as in us lies, to bring the said pirates, free-booters and sea-rovers to justice, have thought fit, and do hereby give and grant to the said Robert Kidd, full power and authority to apprehend, seize, and take into your custody all such pirates, free-booters, and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, or of other nations associated with them, which you shall meet with upon the seas or coasts, with all their ships and vessels, and all such merchandizes, money, goods, and wares as shall be found on board, or with them, in case they shall willingly yield themselves; but if they will not yield without fighting, then you are by force to compel them to yield. And we do hereby strictly charge and command you, as you will answer the contrary at your peril, that you do not, in any manner, offend or molest our friends or allies, their ships or subjects, by colour or pretence of these presents, or the authority thereby granted. 

In witness whereof, we have caused our great seal 

of England to be affixed to these presents.”

Large Version: This Letters of Marque was based on images of the real prop from the pirates movie and the original that it was based on from King William III of England. It features a portrait of George I of England. The text was then typed in using a script font very similar to the movie one. (A calligraphy font similar to the one used on William III’s real letter is available if you prefer).

The document is printed in brown sepia tones onto an 11 x 17 inch piece of natural parchment. (Note that this is twice the size of the average letter size paper.) We then add the small 1 x 1.25 inch blue paper tag with a gold foil crown and King George I’s initials (G.R. = George Rex) seen on the upper left. Lastly, Lord Cutler Beckett’s red “B” faux wax seal near his name and King George’s “crown” green faux wax seal near his name make this document complete. 
In the movie, Beckett shows the Letters of Marque to Will Turner. He wants Will to offer them to Captain Jack in exchange for his compass. The name at the bottom (commissioning the Captain) has not been filled in yet in the movie. We can leave it blank for you to fill in later or if you like, we will print any name you like in that area in an old time handwriting font.

Bulk Orders: Small Letters of Marque can be ordered in bulk and used as a birthday invitation (custom text available for orders of 12 or more all with exactly the same text). It shows the alternative calligraphy font and also darkening of the paper edges with tea stain.

The text we came up with for our invitation is:

“To our trusty and well beloved Captain James Ayers, greeting! Now know ye, that we, being desirous to express our thanks to you for the duty you have fulfilled in the apprehension of pirates, sea-rovers, and other enemies of the crown, invite you to a celebration in honor of the 11th anniversary of the birth of your fellow captain, Hunter Rose. Make your way to the Caribbean with all due speed to the island of Tortuga. Heading: Latitude 38.250678254753595, Longitude 122.04523086547851 – 805 Jackson Street, Fairfield, California. You will need to make port no later than the 26th day of the month of May. The entertainment will begin at 2 bells of the afternoon watch – 1 o’clock in the afternoon. A reply is requested no later than the 19th of May to the Lord Chamberlain’s office 707-426-3459. 

In witness whereof, we have caused our great seal 
of England to be affixed to these presents.”

Please copy the above and paste with your corrections. Bulk pricing and full customization is available only for orders of 12 or more with exactly the same text.