November 17, 2020 Early Arms & Militaria: Age of Exploration, Empire & Revolution
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2020
King George III of Britain (George William Frederick, 1738-1820), document signed, Court of St. James, 24 April 1763, one folio sheet, approximately 18" x 11", two pages; attractively framed in a window mat with a reproduction of the king’s portrait to its left, with a copper coin dated 1806 bearing the king’s profile in relief; the reverse of document viewable through a window mat on the rear of the frame. Near the close of the Seven Years’ War, King George III approves the composition and pay rates of the military garrison at the “Rock of Gibraltar”—situated at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula which strategically controls the Straits of Gibraltar, the only entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. The King’s signature is broadly centered on the tops of the two pages, while the document is also “By the King’s Command” by the three Lords of the Treasury, Frederick, Lord North, Sir John Turner, and Sir James Harris. On the reverse of the document is a detailed columnar chart listing the composition of the garrison regiments and the pay scales of staff and line officers, as well as that of the other ranks for grenadier and battalion companies. CONDITION: The paper with light, random foxing and flattened folds, separation at the center fold (a small piece of cellophane tape at each end of the fold); the ink text and signatures strong and legible. JLK