{"product_id":"death-of-major-john-andre-scarce-original-1783-revolutionary-war-spy-engraving","title":"DEATH OF MAJOR JOHN ANDRÉ Scarce Original 1783 REVOLUTIONARY WAR SPY Engraving","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScarce original circa 1783 historical etching and engraving depicting the execution of infamous British Spymaster Major John André \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: Tahoma;\"\u003efrom \"Barnard's New, Comprehensive and Complete History of England\" ca. 1781 - 1783. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe engraving is entitled in full: \u003cfont color=\"#0039f3\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"The Unfortunate Death of Major André (Adjutant General to the English Army) at Head Quarters in New York, Octr. 2, 1780, who was found within the American Lines in the character of a Spy.\" \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/font\u003eAfter artist William Hamilton (1751-1801) and probably by engraver John Goldar (1729-1795). On laid paper. Printed \"Hamilton delin.\" at lower left, and \"Goldar Sculp.\" at lower right, above the title\/caption. With lovely decorative elements in the trompe l'oeil borders surrounding the image.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMajor André's execution has been sympathetically described by contemporaries, who noted his fearlessness and calm on the gallows. The artist took minor license with some historical details: Major André's hands were bound with a handkerchief, not loose at his sides; and another handkerchief concealed just his eyes, not his entire face.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen Major John André, the head of British military intelligence, was arrested at Tarrytown, New York, dressed as a civilian and carrying the plans for West Point in his stocking, George Washington ordered an investigation. André, it was revealed, had persuaded General Benedict Arnold to betray the fort to the British. When an American offer to exchange their prisoner for Arnold was refused, a trial determined that because André had not worn military uniform in American territory, he should be condemned as a spy. Over the objections of Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette, André was hanged by Continental forces on October 2, 1780.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSimilar copies of this historic engraving reside in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Library of Congress and the Colonial Williamsburg collection, and online via Wikipedia.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExpected wear including isolated edge darkening, a few marginal wrinkles, foxing, toning and minor to moderate soiling to the bottom margin, uneven trimming to right margin, some pinholes to the very top of the page. Else very good. Please review images carefully for exact condition. Engraving measures appx. 9.5\" x 15.25\".\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy with confidence – we’re proud to have served a range of private collectors, scholars, and prestigious institutions. Our items can be found and referenced in institutions such as The Charles Darwin Project, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Patrick Henry's Red Hill National Memorial, and the McKinley Presidential Library, among many others. Please view our exceptional feedback and ratings, and our additional historic autograph and artifact auctions.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont face=\"Tahoma\" size=\"5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold as is, as shown.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Signaturist-Ink","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50194426298608,"sku":"336723987141","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0769\/5948\/2096\/files\/57_374ae480-88e1-4b62-8dcc-9a6f950b90ba.jpg?v=1785789999","url":"https:\/\/signaturist-ink.com\/products\/death-of-major-john-andre-scarce-original-1783-revolutionary-war-spy-engraving","provider":"Signaturist-Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}