John Hancock's Wax Seal
This is a historic wax seal impression taken from the personal signet of John Hancock (1737–1793), the famed American merchant and statesman known for his prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence.
The document provides the following historical context for the seal:
The Seal's Origin: The red wax shows the initials "JH" in a stylized script. The handwritten note indicates the original seal was engraved about 1760, a time when Hancock was active in London and Boston as a merchant.
Provenance: It was presented to the owner in 1850 by Franklin Hancock as a New Year's gift. Franklin Hancock (1825–1867) was a great-nephew of John Hancock and a noted collector of family memorabilia.
The Antiquarian: The card identifies Fred'k F. Hassam (Frederick Fortesque Hassam, 1823–1909) as the "Antiquarian" who likely mounted or authenticated this impression. He was the father of the famous American Impressionist painter Childe Hassam.
The Date "1901": This date, along with the initials "A.S.", likely marks when this specific mounting or presentation was completed or gifted to the next recipient.
Historic Significance
Wax seals were essential in the 18th century for authenticating documents and ensuring the privacy of correspondence before the invention of self-sealing envelopes. Because each person of status typically had a unique design, the seal acted as a physical "signature". John Hancock is known to have used several seals, including one with a coat of arms and others with his initials like the one shown here.
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This is a historic wax seal impression taken from the personal signet of John Hancock (1737–1793), the famed American merchant and statesman known for his prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence.
The document provides the following historical context for the seal:
The Seal's Origin: The red wax shows the initials "JH" in a stylized script. The handwritten note indicates the original seal was engraved about 1760, a time when Hancock was active in London and Boston as a merchant.
Provenance: It was presented to the owner in 1850 by Franklin Hancock as a New Year's gift. Franklin Hancock (1825–1867) was a great-nephew of John Hancock and a noted collector of family memorabilia.
The Antiquarian: The card identifies Fred'k F. Hassam (Frederick Fortesque Hassam, 1823–1909) as the "Antiquarian" who likely mounted or authenticated this impression. He was the father of the famous American Impressionist painter Childe Hassam.
The Date "1901": This date, along with the initials "A.S.", likely marks when this specific mounting or presentation was completed or gifted to the next recipient.
Historic Significance
Wax seals were essential in the 18th century for authenticating documents and ensuring the privacy of correspondence before the invention of self-sealing envelopes. Because each person of status typically had a unique design, the seal acted as a physical "signature". John Hancock is known to have used several seals, including one with a coat of arms and others with his initials like the one shown here.
Share some information about your product
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