If letters patent have been lost or are beyond the control of any party deraigning title from them, or if for any reason they remain unrecorded, any person claiming title thereunder may cause a transcript of the copy of such letters patent kept by the government issuing them, duly certified by the officer or individual having lawful custody of the copy, to be recorded in lieu of the original, and the recorded copy has prima facie the same force and effect as the original for title or for evidence, until the original letters patent are recorded.