Happy Presidents' Day

Full George Washington Signature Display with Swatch of his Coat and His Hair

Happy Presidents' Day! Our Collector's Treasure of the Day is this framed 14.75 x 15.25 inch display featuring an autograph of George Washington, a square piece of Washington’s coat and a lock of approximately six strands of Washington’s hair. The items are attractively framed with an engraved metal plaque and a 4.5 x 6.5 inch reproduction of a Gilbert Stuart portrait of Washington. Washington’s signature is featured on a partial document which was originally part of a large March 17 1769 indenture between George Washington and Robert Thompson. The location of this signature has been identified on a lifesize color reproduction of the 21 x 17 inch original document from which the fragment was excised, which is included in this lot.

The display also features a piece of George Washington’s cloak from the family of his personal secretary Colonel Tobias Lear, who was also one of Washington’s best friends. It was purchased in a lot of other material sold at auction in February 5, 2010. Complete provenance is included. The lock of six strands of George Washington’s hair comes from from the Custis-Powell family. Librarians at Mount Vernon and at Woodlawn Plantation (both in Virginia) have commented that it was commonplace for Martha Custis Washington to give her husband’s hair as a gift both during his life and after his death. Colonel Levin Powell (1738-1810) was an intimate friend of Washington and a Revolutionary War hero. A certification of authenticity from noted American dealer and collector Charles Hamilton is included.

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