leaving out 'it' or 'there'

[Roadster]

I believe I have read sentences where 'it' or 'there' were left out, eg 'On the table was a book. Now - can you also say this: In the contract was written that ... I don't understand the rules behind this.

[Tdol]

I wouldn't; it's OK to drop there in the table example, but in your example, was is an auxiliary verb and it doesn't work for me.