Ten new lots have just been added to The Philatelic Icons Sale: a newly cataloged group of 18th-century American historical documents, each signed by a figure who helped build the young republic. The new additions carry the signatures of Declaration of Independence signers, a Chief Justice of the United States, Revolutionary War financiers, and a Connecticut state treasurer whose grandson would go on to found Colt’s Manufacturing Company.
Released to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States, this group speaks to collectors and researchers alike, from those who pursue Founding Fathers autographs to students of early American history. As with every lot in the sale, each document is presented to serve both the collector and the researcher. Below are a few of the highlights.
A Commission Signed by John Hancock
The centerpiece of the group is Lot 2097J, a 1790 Massachusetts militia commission appointing Ebenezer Weeks as captain. It is signed by Governor John Hancock and countersigned by Secretary John Avery Jr.
John Hancock (1737–1793) needs little introduction. As President of the Continental Congress, he became the first and most famous signer of the Declaration of Independence, and his bold autograph remains one of the most recognizable in American history. The partially printed commission bears the paper-covered wafer seal of the Commonwealth, and ranks among the finest pieces we have had the privilege to offer in this category.
Signers of the Declaration and the Constitution
Several documents carry the hands of men who put their names to the nation’s founding charters. Lot 2097E is an 1795 North American Land Company share certificate signed by Robert Morris as president, the “Financier of the Revolution” and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Lot 2097G is a 1795 Connecticut school-money certificate signed by William Williams, another signer of all three founding documents.
Constitutional history continues with Lot 2097D, a 1785 Connecticut treasury order signed by Oliver Ellsworth, architect of the “Great Compromise” and later Chief Justice of the United States. Two further documents bear the signature of Oliver Wolcott Jr., second Secretary of the Treasury and Governor of Connecticut: a 1789 Superior Court order (Lot 2097B) and a 1782 Pay-Table Office order (Lot 2097F).
Revolutionary War Finance and the Connecticut Line
For collectors drawn to the machinery of the war effort, the group offers a rich vein of treasury and pay records. Lot 2097A is a set of four consecutively numbered 1780 Connecticut pay orders to Continental Army soldiers, signed by Peter Colt, Revolutionary War paymaster, Connecticut state treasurer, and grandfather of firearms industrialist Samuel Colt. Also offered is a pair of 1782 Connecticut treasury bonds (Lot 2097C), a 1777 Massachusetts Bay “Sword in Hand” six-percent loan certificate (Lot 2097H), and a 1780 Pennsylvania Revolutionary War horse bond (Lot 2097I).
Cataloged for the Collector and the Researcher
As with every lot in The Philatelic Icons Sale, this group has been prepared to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:
- High-resolution, zoomable imagery of all aspects of the item
- Links to reference articles and supporting research
- Links to certifications
- Census data and population insights
- Provenance details to trace notable histories
How to Bid
These exciting new additions will be offered in Sale 28, U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM PST. Online preview and bidding are open now.