A military commission signed as President - photo 1
A military commission signed as President - photo 2

A military commission signed as President

Lot 1
22.04.2021 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 4 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 517647
Lot 1 | A military commission signed as President
Estimate value
$ 4 000 – 6 000
ADAMS, John (1735-1826). Partly-printed document signed ("John Adams") as President, Washington, 27 January 1801.

One page on vellum, 318 x 393mm (mild cockling and scattered foxing, engrossment somewhat faded). Countersigned by Samuel DEXTER (1761-1816) as Secretary of War.

John Adams commissions Ferdinand L. Claiborne a Captain in "the First Regiment of Infantry." Claiborne (1775-1815) was a veteran of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, but would resign his commission in 1802 to join his brother, William C. C. Claiborne, the governor of the Mississippi Territory at Natchez (see Lot 17 in this sale for Jefferson's appointment for William as Governor of the Territory of Orleans). Commissioned an officer in the territorial militia, Claiborne fought in the Creek War in 1813 and commanded troops at the battles of Burnt Corn (27 July 1813) and Holy Ground (23 December 1813).

[With:] Partly-printed document signed ("Cowly Mead") signing on behalf of the Governor of the Mississippi Territory, "Town of Washington," 18 December 1806. Appointing Ferdinand L. Claibourne as "Lieutenant Colonel of the first Regiment in the Militia of the Mississippi Territory…" One page, 248 x 246mm (toning, dampstains). Provenance: Ferdinand L. Claiborne – by descent to the consignor.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
08.04.2021 – 22.04.2021
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.