March 2014 Auction Ends Thursday, March 27th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2014
King George III document signed ''George R'' to upper left, handwritten to General James Rooke. Dated 23 February 1803, document assigns recruitment duties to bolster the British armed forces in preparation for a seemingly imminent attack by Napoleon. Indeed, less than three months later, Britain broke the truce with France and declared war. In May, Rooke was interned at Verdun where he was imprisoned for a decade until his escape in 1813, in time to participate in the Battle of Waterloo. Document reads in part, ''These are to authorize you, by beat of Drum, or otherwise to raise so many Volunteers...to recruit and fill up the respective Companies of Our Regiment of Foot under your Command in Ireland, to the Numbers allowed upon that Establishment. And you are to cause the Volunteers raised and levied...to march...in such numbers at such times and to such Port as you shall think most convenient for their Transportation to Ireland...'' Single-page document measures 8'' x 12.5''. Pencil notation to upper right, small tears and some separation to folds expertly repaired with archival tape. Also, small ink blot to verso showing through to front, else near fine.
King George III Military Recruitment Document Signed for the Napoleonic Wars -- Just Before the War of the Third Coalition in Early 1803 -- Addressed to Napoleonic General James Rooke
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