{"product_id":"c1805-original-king-george-iii-british-army-military-commission-on-vellum-napoleonic-wars-blue-revenue-stamp","title":"c1805 Original King George III British Army Military Commission on Vellum – Napoleonic Wars – Blue Revenue Stamp","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eA handsome original British Royal Military Commission issued during the reign of King George III, appointing an officer to the British Army during the Napoleonic era. Executed on vellum in the traditional format used by the War Office, the commission bears the impressive oversized royal sign-manual \"George R\" across the upper left, together with the original embossed blue revenue stamp secured by its original silver staple.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe text appoints the recipient to the rank of \u003cstrong\u003eCaptain\u003c\/strong\u003e, empowering him to command according to the Rules and Discipline of War. The commission was issued \"at Our Court at St. James's,\" the official royal residence from which military appointments were granted throughout the Georgian period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document retains its original folds, period endorsements, and attractive manuscript calligraphy. British military commissions with intact revenue stamps are increasingly sought by collectors of Napoleonic War material, royal documents, and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century military history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very good antique condition with expected folds, age toning, light surface wear, and minor edge losses. Original embossed revenue stamp remains attached.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn excellent display piece representing Britain's military establishment during the reign of George III.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eFrom the text visible, it reads in part:\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"George the Third by the Grace of God... We do by these Presents Constitute and Appoint you...\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe recipient appears to be appointed \u003cstrong\u003eCaptain\u003c\/strong\u003e in a regiment of infantry. The commission is issued \u003cstrong\u003eat the Court of St. James's\u003c\/strong\u003e, the standard wording for British Army commissions of the Napoleonic era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNotable features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLarge \"George R\" royal sign-manual\u003c\/strong\u003e at upper left (\"R\" = Rex)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted on \u003cstrong\u003evellum (animal skin)\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal \u003cstrong\u003eblue embossed revenue stamp\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal \u003cstrong\u003esilver revenue staple\/tack\u003c\/strong\u003e securing the stamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMilitary registration endorsements at lower left\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFolded as originally carried\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContemporary docketing on reverse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese commissions were issued under royal authority and are collected by military historians, Napoleonic collectors, and autograph collectors. Similar commissions are preserved in institutional collections and typically retain the distinctive blue revenue stamp and paper seals. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eApproximate Date\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased upon:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003estyle of engraving\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eblue embossed revenue stamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ewording\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ehandwriting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eformat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI believe this commission dates to approximately \u003cstrong\u003e1803–1813\u003c\/strong\u003e, during the Napoleonic Wars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exact year is difficult to read from these photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall: \u003cstrong\u003eVery Good (-)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePositives:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete vellum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExcellent large George III signature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal blue revenue stamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal silver staple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong manuscript\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDetractions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavy folds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModerate surface wear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight staining and toning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall edge losses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeal absent (if originally attached)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall still an attractive display piece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52616153399578,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/c1805-original-king-george-iii-british-army-military-commission-on-vellum-napoleonic-wars-blue-revenue-stamp","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}