Lot 100

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Description:

John Hancock Boldly Signed Militia Captain's Appointment, Superb Display

A stately 1p document signed by John Hancock (1737-1793), Governor of Massachusetts, as "John Hancock" in the upper left corner. Hancock's signature is truly superb, measuring 3.25" x 1.125" alone (just a little smaller than his 4.7" x 1.3" signature on the Declaration of Independence). Recorded probably in Boston on August 21, 1787. Countersigned by Secretary of the Commonwealth John Avery, Jr. (1739-1806) as "John Avery jun Secy" at center bottom. Featuring a large paper seal showing a gorgeous impression of the Massachusetts state seal in the upper left corner. The document has the usual paper flaws including uneven toning, scattered foxing, and minor paper folds, wrinkles, and breaks, else near fine. Matted and displayed to the right of a G. Barrie & Sons print of Hancock after the original painting by John Singleton Copley, with accompanying engraved name plates. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the document is 15.5" x 12.5" while the overall framed size is 28.5" x 19.75" x .875." Provenance information is included and further discussed below.

Massachusetts Governor Hancock appointed one "Joseph Green Gentleman" as "Captain of the thirteenth company, in the second Regiment and in the Ninth Division of the Militia of this Commonwealth comprehending the County of Berkshire."

The authoritative monograph, "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War: A Compilation from the Archives, Prepared & Published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1896-1908), lists a number of men by the name of Joseph Green who served during the Revolutionary War. The only man explicitly listed as coming from Berkshire County, and by coincidence the only one to attain the rank of non-commissioned officer, was a Sergeant Joseph Green. This Green served under Captain Joseph Peirce's Company and Colonel Asa Barnes's Berkshire County Regiment. This could be the same man here appointed by Governor John Hancock.

John Hancock served as Governor of Massachusetts between 1780-1785, and between 1787 and his death.

Provenance

The lot comes with supporting documentation including:

1. A part of the original auction catalog, No. 48, from The Raab Collection, showing this John Hancock signed document as Item 15, available at the asking price of $4,000.

2. The original sales receipt from The Raab Collection showing that the document was sold for $4,000 (plus shipping costs) on November 8, 2004.

3. An undated handwritten note from Steve Raab of The Raab Collection thanking the buyer for his recent purchase.

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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November 11, 2020 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000