A Victorian framed dental apprenticeship indenture, dated June 22, 1886 (the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria). Measuring 36 x 28.7 cm, this document records the formal apprenticeship of young John David Jones of Bethesda to John Addison Wilson, a surgical, mechanical, and operative dentist in Bangor, Wales.
 
The detailed manuscript outlines the strict rules of Victorian apprenticeships, daily work schedules, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM with meal and tea breaks, and the £40 premium paid. Complete with an embossed red £2 revenue stamp, handwritten signatures, and red wax seals, this piece offers a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century professional training.
 
Extraordinary Provenance:
Adding to its charm, the back of the frame features a vintage typed label affixed by the apprentice's own son, David J. Jones of Cardiff, on December 16, 1971, creating a documented familial link across generations. John David Jones (described as the son of David David Jones, a licensed victualler of Bethesda in the County of Carnarvon) was bound as an apprentice to John Addison Wilson, a "Surgical, Mechanical and Operative Dentist" located at Princes Terrace, Bangor. David David Jones paid a premium of Forty Pounds (£40) to the master, John Addison Wilson. The apprenticeship lasted for a fixed term of years, during which the apprentice was bound to standard strict rules of conduct (e.g., no gambling, no visiting taverns, no marrying). In return, the master was obligated to teach him the art of dentistry, provide lodging and necessities. 
Stamps and Seals: It features a red £2 embossed revenue/duty adhesive stamp and traditional red wax seals accompanied by signatures.
 
Condition: Beautiful antique presentation in a clean black frame, preserved behind glass with wonderful age-related character.
 
A treasured collectable or  a magnificent display piece.