Elias Boudinot military appointment signed ("Elias Boudinot") as President of the Confederation Congress. One partially printed page, 16.75" x 13.5", no place; no date, [circa 1782-1783]. Unengrossed military appointment. Military appointment signed by Elias Boudinot as President of the Confederation Congress. It was customary for a sitting president and his secretary of state to pre-sign papers and uncompleted documents prior to their being filled out and issued. In this case, the military appointment was signed, but never issued. It reads, in part: "...license and authority to...Commander...to fit out and set forth...in a warlike manner...to attack, subdue, seize and take all ships and other vessels, goods, wares and merchandizes, belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain, or to his subjects..." Signed "Elias Boudinot" as president of the Confederation Congress. Countersigned by Charles Thomson as secretary. With embossed wax seal of the navy intact. The verso is signed "M Weare President". It is accompanied by a hand-colored engraving of Boudinot by J. W. Paradise. Elias Boudinot (1740-1821) served as president of the Continental Congress from November 4, 1782 until November 3, 1783 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives until March 1795. Condition: Complete separation at center vertical fold. Edgewear with small chip at lower margin that does not touch any text. Light scattered toning with some offsetting. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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