Colorful partly-printed DS, one page, 28 x 17, November 27, 1925. A rare Shellback certificate issued to William Lavoie, in part: “To all sailors wherever ye may be, and to all Mermaids, Whales, Sea Serpents, Porpoises, Sharks, Dolphins, Eels, Skates, Suckers, Crabs, Lobsters and all other Living Things of the Sea, Greetings. Know ye that on this 27th day of November 1925, in latitude 00000 and Longitude 81° 10' W, there appeared within Our Royal Domain the USS Denver bound southward for the Equator and South American ports. Be it remembered…William Lavoie…having been found worthy to be numbered as one of our Trusty Shellbacks has been duly initiated into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of Deep.” Signed by “Davey Jones” and “Neptunus Rex” in type and in fountain pen by Pershing in the center. The gold seal and ribbon affixed to the lower left remain intact. Rolled and in very good condition, with significant foxing and staining to edges. These certificates were awarded in the US Navy when a crew member passed over the equator for the first time. Between November 1925 and June 1926, the USS Denver carried dignitaries between the United States and South America, where they attempted to resolve a territorial dispute between Chile and Peru. Pershing was the first arbitrator, appointed by President Coolidge in 1925, but he was unsuccessful in breaking the deadlock between countries. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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