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Up for sale/sale is a highly desirable, authentic 1834 State of Vermont Militia Commission. This beautifully preserved document officially appoints Samuel B. Green to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Company, 2nd Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Division of the Vermont Militia.
This document is boldly signed by Governor William A. Palmer (Vermont’s 13th Governor, serving 1831–1835) and countersigned by George B. Mansur, Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs.
What sets this commission apart is its incredible visual appeal, featuring three stunning, intricate engravings by the prominent early Boston engraver Abel Bowen (signed in the plate "A. Bowen Sc Boston" under the infantryman vignette).
Item Specifics
Year: 1834 (Dated June 30, 1834; 58th year of Independence)
Signatures: Governor William A. Palmer, Secretary George B. Mansur
Appointee: Samuel B. Green (2nd Lieutenant)
State: Vermont (Oath of Allegiance sworn in New Haven, VT on July 8, 1834)
Engraver: Abel Bowen (Boston)
Material: Heavy period paper, iron gall ink, blind-embossed paper state seal
Approximate Dimensions: Standard folio size (approx. 10" x 16")
Historical Significance
Governor William A. Palmer (1781–1860)
Palmer was a major figure in early Vermont politics, serving as a US Senator and eventually as Governor under the unique Anti-Masonic party ticket. Autograph material from his gubernatorial term remains highly collectible.
Engravings by Abel Bowen (1790–1850)
Abel Bowen was one of Boston's most famous early wood and copperplate engravers. The document boasts three outstanding vignettes:
1. Top Center: An American eagle with a shield, olive branch, arrows, and military cannonry.
2. Left Side: An allegorical figure of Fame blowing a trumpet while standing atop a globe.
3. Right Side: A beautifully detailed Vermont militia infantry officer standing on a globe encircled by a serpent, holding a standard.
Condition Report
This document is in very good antique condition and displays beautifully.
Ink: The original iron gall ink signatures of Governor Palmer and Secretary Mansur remain dark, crisp, and fully legible.
Paper: The paper has toned naturally over its 190+ year history. There are expected original fold lines and minor edge wear/handling marks consistent with age, but no major tears or compromises to the text.
Seal: The blind-embossed paper State of Vermont seal in the upper left corner is fully intact and has excellent relief.
Reverse: The reverse features the handwritten and signed Oath of Allegiance sworn by Samuel B. Green before a Justice of the Peace in New Haven, VT, dated July 8, 1834.
Please study the high-resolution photos provided to assess the exact condition of this piece.
