United States. A Spanish-American War Commission Document, Signed by William McKinley, 1898

Document features a pen and ink line graphic of an eagle surmounted by a masthead inscribed "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", with a banner below the eagle inscribed "To all who shall see these presents greeting:", followed by the text "Know Ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Charles H. Smith, I have nominated and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate do appoint him Captain in the Third Volunteer Engineers in the service of the United States: to rank as such from the twentieth day of October eighteen hundred and ninety-eight. He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as Captain. And he is to observe and follow such order and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America, or the General or other superior Officers set over him according to the rules and discipline of War. This Commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. Given under my hand at the City of Washington this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and in the one hundred and twenty-third year of the Independence of the United States.", the text followed by "By the President:" at the far left, with the signature of President William McKinley in black ink at the far right, while between the two is the signature of Russell Alexander Alger in black ink above "Secretary of War" (with Alger holding that position in McKinley's cabinet from 1897 to 1899), the base of the document completed by a pen and ink line graphic of a trophy of arms with American flags, a large embossed seal in blue from the United States of America War Office at the lower left, along with an unknown signature in black ink at the upper left. The document is printed in black ink on a moisture-resistant parchment, with the personalized inscriptions in black ink, with the notation "ENGRAVED AND PRINTED AT THE BUREAU OF ENGRAVING & PRINTING, U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT" below the trophy of arms, measuring 398 mm (w) x 492 mm (h), one small nip along the top edge and light soiling along most of the edges but does not affect the integrity of the piece. Extremely fine.