LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Apr Books, Manuscripts & Autographs #658  / 

25039

Unaccomplished American Privateer Commission

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:625.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
Unaccomplished American Privateer Commission
<B><BR>evolutionary War Unaccomplished American Privateer's Commission.</B></I> Partly printed document, one page, folio (12.25" x 10.25"), no place, no date, c. 1780-1783 . An unusual survivor, an unaccomplished privateer's commission intended for use by the Continental Congress. Faced with the task of staving off the British Navy, the most powerful in the world, the Continental Congress quickly reverted to a time-honored custom: licensing private, armed vessels. As privateers were essentially state-sponsored pirates (and privateers ran a high risk of crossing over from legal to illegal), Congress gave specific instructions to privateers within the commissions. Both the states and the Continental Congress issued numerous commissions like this one. This example was a "Continental commission" and would have been signed by the President of Congress. <BR><BR>Issued commissions are difficult enough to obtain, an unaccomplished one is even scarcer. Very light chipping at left margin, a few light creases, negligible soiling, else fine.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Books & Catalogs (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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