There should be, too, in her papers, a leaf, or leaves, for endorsements, indicating her changes of hand, with dates and stamps. The new owner’s signature, seller’s with stamp, and counter-signature, goes on the last blank line. (This helps to build up the characterization of the female, giving her a “slave history,” etc. It tends to improve her performance; she is a slave. On a hundred nights, if you wish, you could be a hundred masters. Her papers, of course, reflect her changes of master, and, one supposes, any details felt pertinent.)

In thinking about bills of sale and registration papers, etc., keep in mind that there might be other documents of interest as well. Perhaps there is a form for reporting the escape of a slave, which is, say, finished off when she is apprehended. What about a form for leasing a slave, or renting her? What about, say, “want lists,” submitted to dealers, when you are looking for a given type female. What about a purchase order sent to a slave house for a hundred beauties (among these, unknown to you at the time, is there a girl, now fallen to slavery, who was once, behind the protection of her freedom, unpleasant to you? If so, finding her at your mercy could be quite a delight.) A natural document here, of course, could be a capture order, or slave requisition. You might then capture this wench, and see if she fills the requirements of the order. If she does not, she is released. If she does, she is whisked away, to be the property of masters. A capture order, or requisition, of course, could be quite specific. It might be a specification of a given individual, say, Linda E. Rogers, of such-and-such an address, for reduction to bondage. Perhaps a down payment is made to the slaver, in a sort of contract, the balance to be paid when the wench is delivered, stripped, now nameless, chained and branded, ready for your collar.