Frederick the Great

Frederick the Great Partial DS Dated 1 Month after his Controversial 1777 Coffee Ban

A partial document in German signed by Frederick II, King of Prussia (1712-1786) at lower right. The paper fragment is dated October 8, 1777 and was signed in Potsdam in the Kingdom of Prussia. On cream laid paper. The royal document was repurposed some 35 years later as an invoice; the back is dated June 1815 and records 13 unknown accounting entries! Frederick's signature is slightly trimmed at the bottom, otherwise dark and bold. Expected wear including isolated folds, stains, and pin holes, else near fine. 6" x 2.875". Ex Ray V. Denslow (see biography below.)

Frederick II signed this document in early October 1777. (It should yield interesting discoveries when fully translated.) About three weeks earlier, Frederick II had signed a much more controversial decree banning coffee from the Kingdom of Prussia. Frederick II's anti-coffee stance informed his policymaking as early as the 1760s. The king forbid coffee imports for other reasons besides his own personal dislike. By banning coffee outright, and by granting hard-to-obtain and expensive special licenses to acquire it, Frederick II secured a lucrative revenue stream and kept monies inside the kingdom instead of flowing towards the Americas. The common people did not need luxury consumer goods like coffee, Frederick II argued; instead, they should drink beer and eat beer soup.

Frederick II, also known as Frederick the Great, ruled Prussia between 1740-1786. Under a rulership style best described as "enlightened absolutism", Frederick II blended autocracy with certain Enlightenment reforms. His policies were thus a combination of the reactionary and the progressive. Some of his achievements included greatly expanding the kingdom; modernizing government; and fostering the arts and letters.

Provenance

Ray V. Denslow (1885-1960), a fourth generation Freemason, and internationally renowned Masonic historian, having written over 20 full volumes and 62 booklets on Masonic subjects. He held extensive positions as a Freemason over his lifetime including Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Missouri and as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Missouri. Perhaps his greatest national honor was that of serving as General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, from 1942-46. He was Grand Master of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor in 1949; Grand Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine in 1943; Grand Chancellor of the Grand College of Rites; Great Prior of the Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte, U.S.A. in 1952; and Grand Abbot of the Society of Blue Friars at the time of his death. He held almost 100 honorary memberships in Masonic groups stretching from France to the Philippines.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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