An 1813 ship's passport signed by President James Madison, 4th President of the United States (1751-1836) and Secretary of State James Monroe, 5th President of the United States (1758-1831), with certificate of authenticity. The document being one page on vellum having scalloped top, with engravings of sailing ship and lighthouse upper center, with applied white paper seal of the United States lower left and red wax seal on verso of page, page inscribed "By the President of the United States of America. Suffer the Schooner Governor Gerry of Fair Haven Joshua Hitch master or commander of the burthen of two hundred twenty four 17/95 tons or thereabouts mounted with four guns navigated with fourteen men to PASS with her company passengers goods and merchandise without any hinderance seizure or molestation the said Schooner appearing by good testimony to belong to one or more of the citizens of the United States and to him or them only. Given under my hand and the seal of the United States of America the sixteenth day of february in the year our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen. By the President, James Madison. James Monroe, Secretary of State. State of Lo Carolina, District of Charleston, Countersigned by ??". The mounted parchment is flanked on left by a lithograph portrait of a seated Madison with a facsimile of his signature below, and on right by a lithograph portrait of a seated Monroe with a facsimile of his signature below. According to the 13th volume of The Naval Chronicle, this schooner
"of 6 guns, 18 men, and 225 tons, from L'Orient, bound to New York, laden with brandy and wine, (was) captured by the Royalist and Earl St. Vincent, privateer, May 31, 1813", meaning that this ship's passport authorized likely the last sailing of the Governor Gerry. Certificate of authenticity to verso of frame. Framed approximately 31" x 42", vellum page approximately 15" x 10.25".
Provenance: From the Estate of Mr. Carl Huddleston of Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to bidding, please consult the additional photos provided and ask all pertinent questions (i.e. condition, size, etc.). Packing and shipping is the responsibility of the buyer, please see our website for a list of shipping companies. For a condition report, please email Condition@AandOauctions.com. For additional photos, please email Photos@AandOauctions.com.