Lot 196
(Presidents) Six Signed Presidential Appointments For A Naval Surgeon. An archive of Naval documents pertaining to the service of John F. Murphy includes six Naval commissions Signed by four Presidents: one by William McKinley, 1 June 1901 (three months before he was assassinated); two by Theodore Roosevelt, 19 Mar. 1902 (vellum is wrinkled), and 19 Jan. 1906; one by William H. Taft, 15 Mar. 1912 (some scattered foxing); and two by Calvin Coolidge, 21 Oct. and 22 Dec. 1926. All are countersigned by the current Secretary of the Navy. All are vellum except the Coolidge documents, which are paper, and all but one document (Coolidge) have the lovely Naval engravings at top and bottom; all documents have the blue Naval seal, small portions of which are lacking on four documents. A seventh presidential commission, engraved with Woodrow Wilson's name and with all of the vignettes and seal, lacks the presidential signature and is signed on 3 April 1918 (the day before the Senate voted to declare war in World War I) by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels. Through the years, John F. Murphy is variously appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Navy, Surgeon in the Navy, and Medical Director in the Navy. Very good to fine condition.
Accompanied by a panoramic photo, 10½" x 18¾", showing The Atlantic Fleet at a 1912 banquet in New York; some edge tears. Also included are Murphy's 1894 public school diploma, his 1900 diploma from the University of Michigan; his humorous "Neptune" certificate for crossing the Equator in 1901 aboard the U.S.S. "Solace"; a commendation signed by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels in 1920 for meritorious service while serving during World War I on the ship "George Washingrton"; a 1920 letter regarding Murphy's commendation for a silver star, and some correspondence from the Navy. An excellent overview of a Naval surgeon's career.
Estimated Value $3,500 - 5,000.
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| Realized $3,565 |
