1790 New York Land Patent with Original Great Seal – Governor George Clinton – Revolutionary War Era – Camillus, 606 Acres
A beautiful and exceptionally complete 1790 New York State Land Patent issued during the administration of Governor George Clinton, one of the most important political figures of the Revolutionary generation and later the fourth Vice President of the United States.
Printed on vellum with extensive manuscript insertions, the patent grants 606 acres in Lot No. 31, Township of Camillus, Montgomery County, New York, to Nathan Sherwood. The document bears the printed signature of Governor Clinton together with the manuscript signature of Lewis A. Scott, Secretary of State, and is dated July 8, 1790, with approval by the Commissioners of the Land Office on December 2, 1790.
Most importantly, the document retains its original suspended Great Seal of the State of New York, measuring approximately 3 1/4 inches in diameter and attached by its original braided cord. The obverse displays the New York state arms, while the reverse features the distinctive radiant sun design. Complete surviving seals of this type are increasingly scarce, as many were detached or damaged over two centuries of handling.
Issued only a few years after American independence, this patent represents the opening of New York's military bounty lands and the settlement of central New York following the Revolutionary War. It is an outstanding artifact of early American state government and westward expansion.
Highlights
- Original 1790 New York State Land Patent
- Governor George Clinton administration
- Manuscript signature of Lewis A. Scott
- Grants 606 acres in Camillus Township
- Original hanging Great Seal of New York intact
- Revolutionary War era document
- Vellum with manuscript insertions
- Superb display piece with excellent historical appeal
Condition
Very Fine.
- Original folds
- Partial seperation at bottom fold
- Strong impressions
- Original attached seal
- Seal has expected edge losses but remains remarkably complete
- Minor foxing and age toning
- No major losses
- Excellent display quality
Seal
The seal is especially attractive.
Obverse
The seal depicts the arms of the State of New York, although wear has obscured much of the detail. The shield originally showed:
- Hudson River
- Sailing vessels
- Rising sun
- Highlands
Reverse
The reverse clearly shows:
- Radiant sun face
- Circular legend
- Original paper wafer construction
An exceptional survivor combining early American history, frontier settlement, and one of the finest surviving examples of an original New York state hanging seal. It would be equally at home in an advanced collection of Revolutionary-era documents, early state papers, or American seals and heraldry.
