Washington, George (1732-1799) Printed Document on Parchment Signed, Order of the Cincinnati, c. 1797.

Lot 32

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Fine Books & Manuscripts by Bonhams Skinner

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Fine Books & Manuscripts

By Bonhams Skinner

Oct 30, 2016 - Oct 31, 2016

Set Reminder 2016-10-30 11:00:00 2016-10-31 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Books & Manuscripts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/skinner/fine-books-manuscripts-1839 Bonhams Skinner bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com

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Lot Description

Washington, George (1732-1799) Printed Document on Parchment Signed, Order of the Cincinnati, c. 1797.
Parchment sheet with a large engraved image and text, inducting Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn (1783-1851) into the Society of the Cincinnati, the date scratched out; the document signed by Knox and Washington at an unknown date presumably left blank and kept by the Society, subsequently presented to Dearborn in 1842, fulfilled in his hand, as indicated by a note on the verso; small in-manufacture hole in the parchment, central fold, edges curling slightly, surface toning, in a modern frame, mounted to show the entire surface of the parchment, 20 x 14 1/4 in.
A signed note on the verso of the document in H.A.S. Dearborn's hand reads as follows, "I was admitted as a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati, July 4, 1833 & this diploma was presented to me, July 4, 1842, which I filled up, as a valuable autograph of Washington."
The Society of the Cincinnati came into being on 13 May 1783, organized by the officers of the Continental Army. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus was a Roman general who had walked away from his ancestral farm to fight for his country, only to return to labor, refusing any honors offered by the ancient Senate. "The members of the new society sought to emulate Cincinnatus in peace as in war." (Quoted from Major Edgar Erskine Hume's The Diplomas of the Society of the Cincinnati, New York: Quarterly Publication of the American Historical Society, 1935). Dearborn was inducted into the Society in 1833, after the death of his father. He became President-General in 1848, at a time when most of the Society's original members had passed away. Some even called for the dissolution of the group, but Dearborn had different ideas. He pushed for the induction of more hereditary members, to further the existence of the organization. The Rule of 1854 (one of Dearborn's ideas) allowed for membership of any descendant of a Continental Army officer, and allowed the Society of the Cincinnati to thrive in subsequent centuries.
Provenance: The Estate of David Spinney.
Estimate $10,000-15,000

The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
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