At the election to the German National Assembly held in the fourth electoral ward of the Black Forest District on 26th and 27th April 1848, Dr. Uhland of Tübingen won 7,086 of the 7,682 votes and consequently was elected deputy. / In certifying his legitimacy as such, we are also attesting to his possession of the character and qualities required of him by Art. 8 of the Electoral Ordinance. / In certification whereof / Rottenburg, 29th April 1848.

Copy of the Deed of Legitimacy on the election of Deputy Ludwig Uhland (recto). Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach a.N.

Each ward issued its elected representative with a Deed of Legitimacy that also specified the number of votes cast. The idea was to furnish parliamentarians with documentary evidence of their claim to represent the people of their ward. As each deed was unique, many deputies took the precaution of having copies made of it. This copy of Uhland’s Deed of Legitimacy was made by Uhland himself.