Exquisite Washington Sword Belt Plate Comes to Auction!

Dallas, Texas: He was a gentleman, a landowner, a surveyor and a war hero. Most importantly, he was the "Father of Our Country." He was, of course, George Washington, the First President of the United States.

Born to a farming family in Virginia in 1732, Washington fought in the French and Indian War in 1754 as a lieutenant colonel. From 1759 until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he was a gentleman farmer, managing his lands in Mount Vernon and keeping active in local politics. Like many people of his day, he felt constrained by British rule, and was soon speaking out against what he saw as an oppressive foreign regime.

In May 1775, by order of the Second Continental Congress, Washington was appointed Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and several months later took command of his troops in Massachusetts.

The rest, as they say, is history. Despite overwhelming odds, foul weather, and every manner of hardship known to man, Washington and his troops prevailed and won independence for a newly-formed nation.

After the war, he wanted nothing more than the peace of retirement and a quiet life at Mount Vernon, but it was not to be. His country needed him now more than ever, and, with the ratification of the new Constitution in 1787, the Electoral College voted to make Washington the first President.

"The inauguration ceremony that would officially make Washington the President was held on April 30, 1789," said Tom Slater, Director of Americana auctions for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "As befits the Chief Executive, Washington was accompanied by an armed escort, each man wearing a sword belt plate similar to the one in our upcoming auction. This particular piece was owned by Major Jacob Morton, who marched in that inaugural parade as aide-de-camp to the Grand Marshall, Colonel Morgan Lewis, with impeccable provenance tracing the current piece from that day to this."

"This oval copper sword belt plate, measuring 2 3/8" x 3 1/4", shows a finely engraved image of a mounted soldier brandishing a cutlass," said Slater. "His rearing charger faces right, standing on a grassy patch of ground, surrounded by ribands above and below inscribed '3rd New York Or; Washington Troop.' The backside displays the impressed stamp of the maker, Bayley, most likely part of a New York City firm active around the time of the inauguration."

"This is an exquisite item, which occupies a significant place in the history of our country," said Slater. "Authentic Washington-related items are few and far between, and the opportunity to bid on a piece that was actually worn at the first Presidential inauguration is not to be missed. We offered this piece in our November 12, 2004 auction, in which it fetched $13,800. Now, that fortunate bidder has decided to offer the piece to the collecting public once again, representing a great chance for those disappointed collectors who missed out on this museum-quality piece the first time around."

Heritage Auction Galleries will offer the Unique and Historically Important Sword Belt Plate Worn by a Member of Washington's Escort for His Inauguration on April 30, 1789 in their upcoming Political Memorabilia and Americana Signature auction, to be held June 7, 2006 at their headquarters in Dallas, TX.

Unique and Historically Important Sword Belt Plate Worn by a Member of Washington's Escort for His Inauguration on April 30, 1789
ESTIMATE: $12,000 - $18,000

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageAuctions.com/Americana.

Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HeritageAuctions.com/Americana and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Tom Slater at TomS@HeritageAuctions.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HeritageAuctions.com to order by email.