Books and Manuscripts

Proceedings of the General Society of the Cincinnati. 1784-1884
Philadelphia: Review Printing House, 1887. First edition (one of likely only 250 copies printed). 4to. 258 pp. Illustrated with an engraved portrait of George Washington by J.C. Buttre after the painting by Edward Savage. Contemporary three-quarter blue morocco over marbled paper-covered boards, stamped in gilt, spine browned, a few scratches to boards; top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; matching marbled endpapers; ownership signature of Josiah Pierce, London, November 28, 1887, at head of title-page; scattered minor wear to fore-edge. OCLC 57270107

A rare official account of the proceedings of the Society of the Cincinnati's annual meeting's from 1784-1884, published following a resolution passed during the 100th annual meeting on May 14, 1884. The idea to publish this account was first suggested during the April 1881 annual meeting by General W.G. DeSaussure of South Carolina, in an edition of 250 copies for official use by its members. We have not been able to locate another copy in the auction record.

Bound with a contemporary photographic facsimile of The Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati--the New York chapter's manuscript document of the Society's principles and tenets, signed by dozens of New York members up until 1850.

Together with:

Schuyler, John
Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati...of the New York State Society
New York: Printed (for Private Distribution) for the Society by Douglas Taylor, 1886. First edition. 4to. xi, (iii), 4-369 pp. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece portrait of Washington by P. Hull after the painting by Mrs. E. Sharpless, and 47 engraved and reproduced portraits of members. Bound as above; original stiff printed wrappers bound in, signed at top of front wrapper by Pierce; errata slip bound in at front; scattered foxing to portraits and text. OCLC 904070465

A rare official account of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, compiled by the New York Society's Secretary, John Schuyler, and containing a trove of information on the institution's early years, with short biographical accounts of every founding member of the New York chapter. This is the first copy of this title we can find in the auction record since 1908, deemed then "very rare."

Josiah Pierce (1827-1913) was born in Gorham, Maine, graduated from Bowdoin College in 1848 and practiced law in Portland. In 1855 he became the U.S. Secretary of the legation in St. Petersburg. Following the end of his diplomatic service he continued to live in St. Petersburg as a businessman for Winans, Harrison & Winans, railroad contractors. In 1865 he received from the Emperor of Russia the Knighthood of the 3rd Class of the Order of St. Anne. Following the termination of his employment with Winans, in 1870, he moved to London, where he became a member of the Royal Geographical Society, the Zoological Society, and the Royal Institution. He was a member of the Society of Cincinnati of Massachusetts, representing his grandfather Archelaus Lewis (1753-1834), an officer in the Revolutionary War, whose uncle, Francis Lewis (1713-1802) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, from New York.

The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal and hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolution. Its membership is restricted to descendants of military officers who served in the Continental Army. Largely the concept of Brigadier General Henry Knox, the Society held its first meeting in May 1783 at the Verplanck House in Fishkill, New York, presided over by General von Steuben and Alexander Hamilton. George Washington was elected its first President.

A rare collection of two official publications of the Society of the Cincinnati, a valuable resource on the Revolutionary institution.