Autographs
George Washington Signed Three Language Ships Paper Display Framed with "WASHINGTON Sacred to Memory"
GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-1799). First President of the United States (April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797); a Founding Father of the United States, who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War; presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Philadelphia as its President.
June 28, 1794-Dated Federal Period, Partially-Printed Document Three Language Ships Paper Signed, "G Washington" as President, and Signed, "Edm(und) Randolph" as the Secretary of State, "Rich(ard) Varick" as Mayor of New York, Fine. This original fully completed and issued Ships Paper document measures 12.75" wide x 15.25" tall and has its full text present, though printed close on the right and left sides as usual with all of the text fully upon the heavy laid period paper.
This Document is matted together and accompanied with a rare, very early Memorial Portrait Print of a seated General George Washington in his Revolutionary War military uniform, titled, "WASHINGTON - Sacred to Memory," which measures 10.25" x 14.25" by F. Bartoli, Revised by I J. Barroilet, Published by D. Kennedy, 228 Market Street, Philadelphia, being clean and well printed, Extremely Fine in quality. Together, both the Document and the Engraving of "WASHINGTON - Sacred to Memory" are matted to an overall combined size of 32" x 24.25". This rare "Memorial" Print has George Washington's death date within a central vignette at bottom, "O B. Dec. 14, 1799". Provenance Ex: Christie's New York, Sale 16099, 5/11/2018, Lot 1629, From the Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, where it sold tehn for $5,625.
The Three Language Ships Paper is thrice headed "GEORGE WASHINGTON," and similar text printed in French, English and Dutch languages below. It is made out to John O'Bryan of the ship Josephine... "bound for Dover Market and laden with Beef, Flour, Sole Leather, Shoes, Seal Skins -...". It is also signed by John Lamb, Collector of Customs at New York and Richard Varick, Major of New York City on June 25, 1794, at the middle right edge. At center, the Great Seal of the United States, measuring 3" across in diameter, is fully intact having a nicely Embossed American Heraldic Eagle at its center. At center is located the very large 3.25" long, bold brown signature "G Washington" which stands out prominently. Below it is the signature of Edmund Randolph in bold brown and Countersigned by John Lamb. It is also Signed by Mayor of New York, Richard Varick, twice. Attached to the lower left edge by a thin pale blue silk ribbon, is its full 3.5" diameter white paper Embossed Official Seal of the "CITY OF NEW YORK - SEAL OF MAYORALTY" with the New York City Arms at its center.
This Ships Paper Document is whole and complete having typical folds and some edge fold splits on the left side, reinforced on the reverse with archival fiber for preservation. There is some lines of darker soiling on several of the folds at left, one long diagonal soil line runs from above the Seal at left to the upper midsection and has a few small older repairs. There are some small faint circular traces of a prior mounting from using wax on its reverse and two small ink drip spots at the lower left corner, apparently by Richard Varick's hand. This Document is properly tipped into four corner mounts when framed. Other than the splits and soiling (which could be further conserved), this document is in above average quality and is unusually solid in appearance. The rare Engraved Print itself is of significant collector value and comes as a nice association.
The Print measures 14.5" tall x 10.5" wide (by sight), professionally matted and framed at left, together with the George Washington Signed Three Language Ships Paper at right. Both George Washington related items are viewed through special UV Plexiglas in a truly beautiful ornate custom wooden frame measuring fully to 25.5" tall x 32.25" wide, that is ready to proudly hang and display.