The 30 Minute Rule begins July 8 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By July 8 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
Partly-printed DS, signed “Geo: Clinton,” one page, 16 x 7.25, February 3, 1784. Official State of New York commission appointing delegates to the Continental Congress, issued under the authority of Governor George Clinton and completed in manuscript. The document certifies the appointment of Alexander McDougall, Charles DeWitt, John Lansing, Jr., Ephraim Paine, and Walter Livingston as “Delegates to represent our said State in the United States of America in Congress assembled for the ensuing Year.” Signed prominently along the bottom fold by George Clinton; the lower portion retains the original ‘Great Seal of the State of New York’ dark wax pendant, which is attached by its original blue cord. In very good to fine condition, with light staining to the document, and some damage to the hefty seal.
George Clinton (1739–1812), Revolutionary War general, longtime governor of New York, and future vice president of the United States under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, was among the most powerful political figures of the Early Republic. Serving as governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and again from 1801 until assuming the vice presidency in 1805, Clinton oversaw the state during the closing years of the Revolution and the uncertain postwar Confederation period. The commission documents New York’s appointment of representatives to the Continental Congress at a pivotal transitional moment, only months after the formal end of the Revolutionary War, following the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The delegates named in the document included several major political and military figures of Revolutionary New York. Alexander McDougall had served as a Continental Army general under George Washington; John Lansing, Jr., would later attend the Constitutional Convention before departing in opposition to the proposed Constitution; Charles DeWitt was a longtime New York politician and militia officer active in both the Continental and state governments during the Revolution; Ephraim Paine was a prominent New York landowner and legislator associated with the state’s Anti-Federalist faction; and Walter Livingston belonged to the influential Livingston family that played a central role in Revolutionary and Early Republic governance.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$50.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.
