{"product_id":"1812-king-george-iii-military-commission-ensign-2nd-battalion-12th-regiment-of-foot-napoleonic-wars-royal-seal-intact","title":"1812 King George III Military Commission – Ensign, 2nd Battalion 12th Regiment of Foot – Napoleonic Wars – Royal Seal Intact","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original British military commission issued during the reign of \u003cstrong\u003eKing George III\u003c\/strong\u003e, dated \u003cstrong\u003e14 February 1812\u003c\/strong\u003e, appointing \u003cstrong\u003eHenry Willet Loved\u003c\/strong\u003e as \u003cstrong\u003eEnsign in the Second Battalion of His Majesty's Twelfth Regiment of Foot (East Suffolk Regiment)\u003c\/strong\u003e. Issued from \u003cstrong\u003eCarlton House\u003c\/strong\u003e and signed on behalf of the Crown by \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Ryder\u003c\/strong\u003e, Secretary at War, this commission dates from the height of the Napoleonic Wars, when Britain's army was rapidly expanding to meet the demands of the conflict against Napoleon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExecuted on large vellum in elegant manuscript calligraphy, the document retains its impressive \u003cstrong\u003eembossed royal paper seal\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eblue embossed revenue stamp\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the attached stamp duty receipt—features often absent from surviving examples. The commission remains highly displayable, with bold penmanship, excellent readability, and only expected folds and age wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA handsome and historically important military document from the Napoleonic era, combining royal authority, military history, and outstanding visual appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 February 1812\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMonarch:\u003c\/strong\u003e King George III\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRank:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ensign\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegiment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Second Battalion, 12th (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vellum with embossed seals and revenue stamp\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very Good, original folds and expected age wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMilitary Commission of Ensign\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14 February 1812\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMonarch:\u003c\/strong\u003e King George III\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDocument Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Royal military commission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRank Granted:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ensign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegiment:\u003c\/strong\u003e Second Battalion, Twelfth (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOfficer Appointed:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHenry Willet Loved\u003c\/strong\u003e (the surname appears to read \u003cem\u003eLoved\u003c\/em\u003e; the original should be checked under magnification)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSigned by:\u003c\/strong\u003e Secretary at War \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Ryder\u003c\/strong\u003e (\"R. Ryder\")\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCountersigned:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thomas Bruce (Secretary in the Commander-in-Chief's office)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssued from:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carlton House, London\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthority:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"By His Majesty's Command\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe text appoints the recipient:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"...to be Ensign in the Second Battalion of Our Twelfth Regiment of Foot...\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2nd Battalion of the 12th Regiment had only recently been formed in 1811 as Britain expanded its army during the Napoleonic Wars. In late 1812 the battalion went to Ireland before later service connected with the Peninsular and Waterloo period. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOutstanding Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example retains several features collectors seek:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge engraved vellum commission\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal embossed royal paper seal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlue embossed revenue stamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal stamp duty receipt attached\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFine George III calligraphic heading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttractive large signature of Robert Ryder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal filing endorsements\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese intact revenue stamps are often missing or damaged, making this example more desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is \u003cstrong\u003eVery Good\u003c\/strong\u003e for a 214-year-old vellum commission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePositives:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal vellum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong ink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent legibility\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal seals remain attached\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo significant loss of text\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition issues:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFold wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModerate toning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor surface abrasions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall areas of paper reinforcement loss on reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral age handling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall approximately \u003cstrong\u003eVG (Very Good)\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52606405083418,"sku":null,"price":1125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1934.jpg?v=1785325221","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1812-king-george-iii-military-commission-ensign-2nd-battalion-12th-regiment-of-foot-napoleonic-wars-royal-seal-intact","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}