Extremely rare partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 15.75 x 19.5, March 22, 1881. President Garfield appoints Louis J. Guliok "a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps…in the service of the United States." Beautifully signed at the conclusion by President Garfield and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy William Hunt. The blue seal affixed at the bottom remains vibrant and fully intact. In fine condition. An exceptionally attractive example.
Like many generals-turned-politician, Garfield held his military experience close to his heart as he entered the White House in 1881, immediately beginning plans for improvement of America's armed forces. One of his greatest accomplishments during his brief 200-day presidency was the resurgence and reform of the US Navy. Fifteen years after the Civil War, American naval supremacy had significantly declined; the dated ships were inferior to those developing in other nations, and the prestige of climbing the naval ranks had all but vanished. Appointing William Hunt Secretary of the Navy and forming a new advisory board, plans began for the construction of 68 new ships and modernized training of new recruits in both the Navy and Marines. This Marine Corps appointment, signed less than three weeks after Garfield's inauguration, marks a new beginning not only for First Lieutenant Louis Guliok, but for the country's naval forces as a whole. Garfield documents signed as president are extremely rare, and this is the only Marine Corps appointment by Garfield that we have ever encountered.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$100.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
