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John Hancock Unengrossed Military Appointment Signed as President of the Second Continental Congress....
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$15,000.00
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Description
Early example of a "United Colonies" military appointment, featuring a bold John Hancock signature
John Hancock Unengrossed Military Appointment Signed as
President of the Second Continental Congress. One page,
partially printed, 301 x 230 mm. No place [but likely
Philadelphia], no date [but circa 1775-1776]. A
filled-in-blank military appointment authorizing a commission in
the Continental Army. Signed, "John Hancock" as President.
Countersigned by Charles Thomson as secretary, "Chas
Thomson Secy." Numbered "31" on verso.The appointment reads, in part:
In Congress. The Delegates of the United Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, to We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be in the Army of the United Colonies, raised for the Defense of American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile Invasion thereof... By Order of the Congress...
Charles Evans, in his American Bibliography, records a broadside with almost identical text as Evans 15129. Evans 15129 gives the date of these broadside commissions as 1776 and gives the printer as John Dunlap, the Philadelphia printer most famous for producing the first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence. The present blank commission form is likely an earlier iteration because it notably lacks "Georgia" in the list of United Colonies, whereas in Evans 15129, Georgia appears last in the list, following South Carolina. While the type and formatting of the two commissions is slightly different, the text remains nearly identical, making it likely that the present commission pre-dates Evans 15129. The use of "United Colonies" rather than "United States" signifies that this commission was printed prior to the vote for independence in July 1776 and represents an early form of a Revolutionary War military commission.
Condition: Creases along old folds, archival reinforcements to separations on verso, top left corner with paper reinforcement on verso. Minor soiling. A fine example of Hancock's signature, bold and strong.
References: See Evans 15129 for a seemingly later printing of an officer's commission with nearly identical text.
Provenance: Property of A Distinguished American Collector From The Pacific Northwest
Auction Info
2023 July 8 Historical Platinum Signature® Auction #6275 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
July, 2023
8th
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 9
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 847
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