George Washington (1732-1799). Autograph address panel signed (“G. Washington,”) endorsed “Public Service,” to Brigadier General William Irvine, commanding at Fort Pitt (present‑day Pittsburgh). [United States], [ca. 1781-1783]. One page, oblong, 7 1/4 x 4 in. (18.4 x 10.2 cm), matted and framed to  24 7/8 x 17 13/16 in. (63.2 x 45.2 cm).

A war‑date free franked cover from Commander in Chief George Washington to Brig. Gen. William Irvine (1741-1804), then in command of Fort Pitt and the Continental Army’s Western Department. At upper right appears the official postal endorsement “Public Service,” the formula that conveyed government correspondence without postage during the Revolution, while Washington signs at lower left, “G. Washington,” to authorize the franking. The address (“To / Brigadier General Irvine / Commandg—Fort Pitt”) is in a neat clerical hand typical of Washington’s headquarters' practice; the signature is in Washington’s hand.

Irvine, an Irish‑born officer of the Pennsylvania Line, oversaw frontier defense from Fort Pitt roughly 1781-1783, coordinating supply, militia, and intelligence in the Ohio Country and reporting directly to Washington. Surviving war‑date Washington free frank covers to named field commanders in the Western Department are scarcer than his later presidential franks and are sought after for Revolutionary War, Western theater, and early Pittsburgh collections.

Full inscription (recto, line breaks preserved):

“Public Service / To / Brigadier General Irvine / Commandg—Fort Pitt / G. Washington.”

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe] [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

Not examined out of frame.