Lot 2097J
1790 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Militia Commission Appointing Captain Ebenezer Weeks, Signed by Governor John Hancock and John Avery
Signed by John Hancock, First Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Mise à prix: $10,000
Estimation: $15,000 - $17,000
Massachusetts military commission dated September 21, 1790 and signed by John Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts. The document is partially printed with a large heading, "By His EXCELLENCY John Hancock, Esq. GOVERNOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS," and a paper-covered wafer seal of the Commonwealth at upper left. It appoints Ebenezer Weeks to the rank of "Captain of a Company in the second Regiment third Brigade and fifth division of the militia of this Commonwealth comprehending the Counties of Plimouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes County & Nantucket." Signed by John Hancock at left beneath the Massachusetts seal and countersigned by John Avery Jr. as Secretary of the Commonwealth.
John Hancock (1737-1793) remains one of the most celebrated figures of the American Revolution, remembered as President of the Continental Congress and for his iconic signature on the Declaration of Independence. Also signing the commission is John Avery (1739-1806), whose attestation appears at the bottom as Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Informations sur la vente
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28
Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST
We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.
America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.
This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale.
As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:
✔ High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item
✔ Links to reference articles and supporting research
✔ Links to philatelic certifications
✔ Census data and population insights
✔ Provenance details to trace notable histories
Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.