Legal Definitions - single obligation

A single original refers to a legal document or instrument that is created and signed as one unique, primary version, without any identical duplicates being produced simultaneously to serve as equally authoritative originals. In essence, it is the sole authentic physical version of the document at the time of its execution.

• Example 1: A Unique Historical Manuscript

  Imagine a renowned composer's handwritten musical score for a famous symphony, personally signed and dated by the composer. This physical manuscript is later donated to a museum.

  This score is a single original because it is the one unique, physical document penned by the composer. While countless printed editions of the symphony exist, and digital scans of the manuscript might be made, *this specific handwritten document* is the sole original artifact. No other identical handwritten version was created at the same time to hold equal primary status.

• Example 2: A Specific Art Commission Contract

  A client commissions a custom mural from an artist. They draft a contract outlining the scope of work, payment terms, and deadlines. Both the client and the artist sign only one physical copy of this contract, which the client keeps for their records.

  In this scenario, the signed physical contract is a single original. Even if both parties have digital scans or unsigned drafts, the *one* document bearing the original signatures of both parties is the sole authoritative version. No duplicate physical copy was signed simultaneously to serve as another equally valid original.

• Example 3: A Government-Issued Land Grant

  In the 19th century, a pioneer family received an official land grant certificate from the government, formally transferring ownership of a specific parcel of land to them. This physical certificate was a unique document.

  The physical land grant certificate issued by the government was a single original. While the government would have maintained records of the grant, the *initial, official certificate* delivered to the pioneer family was the unique, primary document signifying the transfer of land ownership. No other identical, equally authoritative original certificate was simultaneously created and issued to the family.