This relic card features an authentic handwritten fragment from an 18th-century document attributed to George Washington, preserved and displayed by Pieces of the Past as part of their historic Americana series.

The fragment contains clear, dark, flowing script, cut from an original period document — often from letters, military orders, estate papers, or administrative manuscripts produced during Washington’s lifetime. These relics allow collectors to own a real piece of early American history at an accessible price point.

The card displays a beautiful, crisp handwriting segment with visible letter curvature and strong ink contrast, showcasing the distinctive writing style of the period.

A standout piece for collectors of Washington memorabilia, early-American history, or historical relic cards.

Card Details:

Series: Pieces of the Past – Historic Relics
Subject: George Washington
Relic Type: Authentic handwritten document fragment
Era: 18th century (Colonial/Revolutionary / Early Federal period)
Display: Factory-sealed case
Condition: Excellent, clean relic window with bold ink strokes

The handwriting displayed on this card shows traits consistent with late-1700s American cursive, the period during which Washington and his clerks produced thousands of documents.

Key characteristics seen in this fragment:

1. Long, heavy upward ascenders

Letters such as h, l, and f exhibit tall ascenders with a slightly weighted top — a hallmark of 18th-century quill writing. Washington’s documents often show this exaggerated rise due to the writing tools and style of the era.

2. Firm, deliberate downstrokes

The bold vertical lines suggest a quill nib cut for strong pressure, producing darker ink on downward pulls — typical of Washington’s military and administrative writing.

3. Distinctive looping on letters like “D” and “A”

The ornate loop visible in the fragment is consistent with Washington-era script. Washington himself used a highly flourished capital “D,” and his clerks emulated similar stylistic ornamentation.

4. Iron gall ink aging

The ink shows the deep brown-black coloration and mild feathering expected from oxidized iron gall ink — the universal writing medium of Washington’s time.

5. Laid paper texture

The fragment shows the slightly ribbed, fibrous structure of 18th-century rag-based laid paper, used before wood pulp paper existed. This is fully consistent with authentic Washington-era documents.

Because many Washington documents were written partly by clerks but signed or corrected by him, handwriting in relics may come from either Washington himself or his administrative scribes. What matters for collectors is that the fragment comes from an original Washington-era manuscript, which this relic preserves.