George Washington, the first president and de facto founder of the United States of America, has signed this Society of the Cincinnati induction document. The Society of the Cincinnati is a male-only order that honors commissioned officers of the American Revolution and their descendants. Members of the Society of the Cincinnati include President Washington, the Marquis de La Fayette, Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, King Louis XVI of France, Pierre L’Enfant, and many more. This esteemed society was founded in 1783, with George Washington serving as its president. It is named after the Roman consul Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, who relinquished near-total power over Rome to return to his pre-wartime occupation as a humble farmer. It is in the spirit of Cincinnatus’ selfless act that the Society of the Cincinnati exists, with its motto of “Omnia reliquit servare rempublicam”, Latin for “He relinquished everything to save the Republic.”

This document serves as the induction into the Society of the Cincinnati for a man named “Petry”, his last name being illegible next to his first. This soldier served as an officer in the 3rd Connecticut Regiment, serving under his fellow Society of the Cincinnati member Samuel Wyllys in the regiment’s 3rd Company. This document was signed by President Washington in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. President Washington has signed the document in black fountain pen that has toned slightly with age.

The document is bordered with scenes of a naval battle on the bottom, and an eagle emerging from clouds on the top of the document. An armored soldier holding a flag, an angel, and a partially-nude woman are printed on the bottom next to a lion and an eagle. Two seals, one bearing “Societas Cincinnatorum Instituta” and the other bearing their Latin motto, are also printed near the bottom of this document. This document measures 21 x 14.5 inches and comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A74839) for Washington’s signature.

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