President of the Second Continental Congress and of the Congress of the Confederation; first Governor of Massachusetts; and the first Signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Partially printed DS, one page, 13.5 x 12.5, September 17, 1787. Hancock, as governor, appoints “John Burt, Gentleman … Captain of the third company in the first Regiment in the first Brigade of the fourth Division of these Militia of this Commonwealth comprehensing the County of Hampshire.” Signed under the intact paper seal, “John Hancock,” and countersigned by Commonwealth Secretary John Avery. Cloth matted and framed with an engraved portrait of Hancock and a small plaque to an overall size of 29.5 x 21. The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to address problems in The United States of America following independence from Great Britain. Although it was purportedly intended only to revise the Articles of Confederation, the intention of many of the Convention’s proponents, chief among them James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was from the outset to create a new government rather than “fix” the existing one. The result of the Convention was the United States Constitution. The Convention is one of the central events in the history of the United States. In good condition, with document having been professionally silked on the front resulting in some mild rippling, crack and pencil tracing to paper seal, previous folds and repaired separations, one affecting loop of “J” in signature, and scattered soiling with a heavier stain to upper left portion of text. Hancock’s familiar signature is prominent and measures over 3″ in length. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA. Oversized.
