Jones John
John Paul Jones Rare Glorious Huge Signature

JOHN PAUL JONES The military hero's signature on a 1.75" x 1" slip of paper. Extremely Rare! Signature: "Jno P Jones". Closely trimmed at top edge. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. Accompanied by PSA/DNA LOA.

Scottish-born John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was commissioned a first lieutenant in the new Continental Navy in December 1775. Serving aboard Esek Hopkins' flagship Alfred, Jones was the first to hoist the Grand Union flag on a continental warship. Elevated to Captain, Jones commanded the 12-gun sloop Providence during the summer and fall of 1776, capturing and sinking several British ships. In 1779, now commanding the Bonhomme Richard, a ship loaned by France and named in homage to Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, Jones raided English shipping and fought his most famous engagement, a long and bloody duel with the superior British frigate Serapis. Refusing English Captain Pearson's request for his surrender, Jones made his famous retort, "I have not yet begun to fight." The Bonhomme Richard was sunk, but Jones won the battle, transferring his command to the vanquished Serapis. In 1781 Jones returned to the U.S. to supervise the formation of the American Navy. In 1788, he accepted service in the Russian navy under Catherine the Great, engaging in several naval battles against the Ottoman Empire. Then, in 1792 he was appointed U.S. Consul to Algiers, but died before the commission arrived. His remains were rediscovered in a French cemetery in 1905, and he finally received a hero's return to the United States, escorted by seven battleships and four cruisers. He was laid to rest in the U.S. Navy Chapel in Annapolis in 1913.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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