Lot 91 email save

Signed GEORGE WASHINGTON Society of the Cincinnati

Sign In to see what this sold for

Autographs

---

Superb Early George Washington Signed "Society of the Cincinnati" Commission Diploma Being Either The First Or Second Washington Signed Manuscript Form

GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732-1799). First President of the United States and Commanding General of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
December 11, 1783, Manuscript Document Signed, "G. Washington," 1 page, at Philadelphia, Choice Extremely Fine. This is an original, extremely rare Manuscript Certificate, awarding French Captain Augustin Brissault of the First Partizan Legion, membership to the Society of the Cincinnati. It is also Signed by the Society's founder and George Washington's future Secretary of War, "H.(enry) Knox." Augustin Brissault joined the First Battalion of the Continental Partizan Legion in the Summer of 1778. On January 13, 1779 the Continental Congress appointed Brissault as Lieutenant by brevet, and was later promoted to Captain on March 11, 1782. He had an honorable discharge and retired on November 25, 1783, about three weeks before this document was executed.
This document has a wonderful, very dark and strong "G. Washington" signature which is fully 2.75" long, written at its conclusion. It is very clean and impressive for presentation measuring 12" x 7.25" and is beautifully written in rich, clear brown with a vivd red wax seal at the upper left corner.
Any "Manuscript Form" Society of the Cincinnati diploma, especially Signed by George Washington is exceptionally rare. This very example is absolutely one of the very first ever issued by George Washington! Washington was elected as President of the Society of the Cincinnati in December of 1783. Research, supplied by the Society itself, indicates that Henry Knox signed three manuscript diplomas in October of 1783. There was one manuscript diploma signed December 1, 1783 (and there is no determination of who, being either Knox or Washington, having signed it). Then this specific diploma was itself signed by George Washington on December 11, 1783, thus making this Diploma either the first or second Washington signed manuscript Society of the Cincinnati diploma to exist. This is the second earliest Society of Cincinnati, George Washington signed document and the earliest available to collectors, the other example being in the Society of Cincinnati collection. Ex: HCA Auction, March 2007, Lot 13, (no tag) where it sold for $25,300.

The design for the printed Society of the Cincinnati diploma was approved in November 1783. That design was taken by L'Enfant to France where a copper engraving plate was produced. L'Enfant returned to America May 1784 and presented the work to Society's committee. The body text of the diploma was determined later.
It was not until November 1784 that the first 100 printed diplomas were finally produced. The concept of having a Society of the Cincinnati was the idea of Major General Henry Knox. The first meeting was held at a dinner in Fishkill (near Newburgh), New York in May of 1783, as the British had not yet withdrawn from New York City. It was chaired by Lieutenant General Alexander Hamilton and the participants agreed to stay in contact with each other after the war.
Membership was limited to officers who served in the Continental Army and Navy and also included officers of the French Army and Navy who met the same requirements. Membership was passed down to the eldest son, after the death of the original member. The criteria were to have been an officer in the Continental Army or Navy for a period of Three Years, an officer who died or was killed in the line of duty, or an officer serving until the close of the war. Within twelve months, a constituent Society had been organized in each state and in France. There were about 5,500 originally eligible members, and 2,150 had already joined.

Early American will accept payment by check or credit card.

View Early American next auction.

Similar lots up for auction