Partly-printed vellum DS as president, signed “G. Washington,” one page, 20 x 13.5, July 8, 1790. A Society of Cincinnati membership certificate issued to Hoysteed Hacker. In part: “Be it known that Hoysteed Hacker Esq; a Captain in the late Navy of the U. States is a Member of the Society of the Cincinnati; instituted by the Officers of the American Army, at the Period of its Dissolution, as well to commemorate the great Event which gave Independence to North America, as for the laudable Purpose of inculcating the Duty of lying down in Peace Arms assumed for public Defence, and of uniting in Acts of brotherly Affection, and Bonds of perpetual Friendship…In Testimony whereof I, the President of the said Society, have hereunto set my Hand at the City of New York.” Signed at the conclusion by Washington as the Society’s president and countersigned by Henry Knox as secretary. All of the writing has been professionally re-inked, a common practice with these uncommon and desirable documents. In good to very good condition, with several small holes affecting nothing (old tape repair on reverse to a hole in the center), slight paper loss to left margin, and heavy overall toning from residue on the reverse from onetime mounting; Washington’s signature, re-inked as previously mentioned, is slightly blurred but otherwise very bold.
The Society of the Cincinnati was founded in May 1783 as an exclusive fraternal organization for officers who had served at least three years in the Continental military, as well as high-ranking officers in the French military; membership has since been expanded to include the eldest male heirs of original members and descendants of officers who served during the Revolution. Washington was elected as the first President General of the Society in December of 1783 and served until his death in 1799, when he was succeeded by Alexander Hamilton. Society of the Cincinnati documents are quite rare and represent one of the most desirable formats of all Washington documents available. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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