May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
William Shirley (1694-1771) ,partially-printed, document signed, dated August 31, 1743; large folio sheet of laid paper, 12 1/4 x 16 inches, with Massachusetts provincial seal applied to upper righthand corner. Shirley, the longest-serving "Captain-General and GOVERNOR in Chief, in and over His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England" appoints "Jonathan Hunt to be Second Lieutenant in the first foot Company of the Town of Northampton, under the Command of John Stoddard Esqr. Capt[ain]" of Stoddard's Regiment of Hampton County. CONDITION: the paper toned and with foxing, fold lines and one mended(?) tear in lower left margin, the printing and inked inscriptions strong, the seal a fine impression. Document is laid-down to pressboard and floated in a frame with window mat (not examined out of the frame).
[with]
A wood-housed, single-draw telescope with brass-mounted optics at each end, 27 1/2 inches long when closed. The inner draw of brass is engraved with the maker's name, "GILBERT LONDON", most likely John Gilbert Sr. (fl. 1751-1791). CONDITION: The wooden body has splits emanating from the brass mounts at each end, the front rim split above brass sliding cover, and the optics are in place, but are not functional at present. JLK
Illustrated and discussed on pp. 18-19 and 138-139, respectively, in "For Freedom I Live."