“ Unlike simple contracts, no consideration is required to give them validity at law, their validity, as in the case of all other specialties, depending on their form and the method of their execution. They must be written or printed on paper or parchment and they must be sealed and delivered by the grantor or obligor. It is said that signing a deed by the obligor is not essential to the validity, although it is now the universal practice to execute the instrument by signing as well as by sealing and delivering it. ”

“ In case of the death of the obligor the holder of specialty obligations executed by the deceased had at common law much higher rights against his estate than the holder of simple contract obligations. (See Administration.) Although consideration is not necessary to give legal validity to a specialty, courts of equity will not grant their peculiar form of relief by way of specific performance to one who has not given consideration for the specialty obligation which he holds. ”