[HANCOCK, John (1737-1793)]. Partly-printed United States Loan-Office Transfer Certificate issued on behalf of John Hancock. Signed on the recto by William Imlay, as Commissioner of Loans in the State of Connecticut. 28 February 1793.

One page, oblong 12mo (132 x c.280mm). Accomplished in manuscript. (Irregularly trimmed on side margins, with circular cancellation through Imlay’s signature, some separation a folds, small diamond-shaped hole cut in lower border, some tape reinforcements on verso.)

Acknowledging that “John Hancock Esq. of Boston” is Proprietor of stock, in the Public Funds of the United States, to the amount of $4,902.68, bearing interest at three percent per annum, and that the certificate has been cancelled and transferred to his credit in the Books of Commissioner of Loans in the State of Massachusetts by Warrant from the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton Esq. An attractively designed security printed in several decorative types, delicate floral border incorporating the word “AMERICA” in fancy cursive at left and “Loan office of the United States of America” in block letters on an intertwining scroll, at left an oval woodcut of the United States seal and woodcut device for the United States Loan Office.

“The loan officers and the Register of the Treasury issued these certificates with a warrant [see below] in order to notify the federal treasury of stock transfer form the books of one office to another” Hessler, Illustrated History of U. S. Loans, p. 60. Anderson US 204; Hessler X38 (rarity “R8” [1-3 surviving copies known]).

[With the accompanying:]

HAMILTON, Alexander (1757-1804). Partly-printed United States Loan Office Transfer Warrant for a credit transfer of stock in the Public Funds of the United States belonging to John Hancock from the State of Connecticut to the State of Massachusetts. Signed “Alexander Hamilton,” as Secretary of the Treasury. Accomplished in manuscript. Countersigned by Oliver Wolcott, as Comptroller. 18 April 1793.

One page, folio (332 x 212mm). Affixed with the embossed paper seal of the U. S. Treasury to the annexed certificate (above). With registry docket on recto signed by Joseph Nourse, as Register of the Treasury, and additionally docketed in another hand on verso. (With a c.20mm punch-hole cancellation through a large portion of Hamilton’s signature, some separations at folds and tape reinforcements on verso.)

The document addressed to Nathaniel Appleton, the Commissioner of Loans in the State of Massachusetts, certifies the credit transfer to John Hancock in the amount of $4,902.68, bearing interest at three percent per annum, from William Imlay, the Commissioner of Loans in the State of Connecticut. Hamilton’s certification was signed less than six months before Hancock’s death on 8 October 1793. Anderson, The Price of Liberty US 205; Hessler X39 (rarity “R8” [1-3 surviving copies known]).

AN HISTORIC PAIR OF EXTREMELY RARE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS RELATING TO “STOCK IN AMERICA” OWNED BY JOHN HANCOCK. A SUPERB ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TWO FOUNDING FATHERS—JOHN HANCOCK AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON.