This entry showcases a primary-source document of early 20th-century American political history: an original Presidential Appointment Document from 1929, hand-signed by the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, and co-signed by his Postmaster General, Walter F. Brown.
Issued during the first year of Hoover’s presidency, this official executive commission formalizes a federal appointment within the Post Office Department. Before assuming the presidency in 1929, Hoover gained international acclaim as a humanitarian administrator leading European relief efforts during and after World War I, followed by a transformative tenure as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. Presidential appointments from Hoover’s single term (1929–1933) represent key primary-source artifacts capturing the administrative machinery of the federal government on the eve of the Great Depression.
Printed on heavy cream parchment paper, the broadside commission features elegant calligraphy and engraved typography beneath the bold, arched header "HERBERT HOOVER / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" centered above an engraved American bald eagle emblem. The document formally appoints Walter Kennedy as Postmaster at Templeton in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Directly above the printed line reading "By the PRESIDENT:", Herbert Hoover has rendered a dark, fluid signature in fountain pen ink ("Herbert Hoover"). To the lower left, Postmaster General Walter F. Brown has co-signed the appointment ("Walter F. Brown"), alongside an official blind-embossed seal of the Post Office Department featuring a horseback post rider. Preserved in very good historical condition with minor edge aging and light paper toning, this authenticated presidential appointment serves as an essential centerpiece for collectors of presidential autographs, executive commissions, and American political history.
Consignor Notes
Beautifully signed official Presidential Certificate appointing a U.S. Postmaster, signed by President Herbert Hoover on October 21, 1929, just three days before the "Black Thursday" stock market crash that would send the U.S. into economic turmoil.
The importance of a signature isn't just in the document itself, but in the timeline and context in which it was signed. And Herbert Hoover's life as President was just days away from one of our country's most devastating chapters.
- OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION: Original 1929 executive appointment broadside issued by the United States Post Office Department.
- EMBOSSED DEPARTMENT SEAL: Features an intact, crisp blind-embossed Post Office Department seal depicting a post rider.
- ENGRAVED EXECUTIVE TYPOGRAPHY: Header adorned with prominent arched presidential typography and a heraldic bald eagle vignette.
- HAND-SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER: Authentically autographed in fountain pen ink by Herbert Hoover ("Herbert Hoover") on his designated signature line.
- CO-SIGNED BY POSTMASTER GENERAL: Co-signed by Postmaster General Walter F. Brown ("Walter F. Brown").
This entry showcases a primary-source document of early 20th-century American political history: an original Presidential Appointment Document from 1929, hand-signed by the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, and co-signed by his Postmaster General, Walter F. Brown.
Issued during the first year of Hoover’s presidency, this official executive commission formalizes a federal appointment within the Post Office Department. Before assuming the presidency in 1929, Hoover gained international acclaim as a humanitarian administrator leading European relief efforts during and after World War I, followed by a transformative tenure as Secretary of Commerce under Presidents Harding and Coolidge. Presidential appointments from Hoover’s single term (1929–1933) represent key primary-source artifacts capturing the administrative machinery of the federal government on the eve of the Great Depression.
Printed on heavy cream parchment paper, the broadside commission features elegant calligraphy and engraved typography beneath the bold, arched header "HERBERT HOOVER / PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" centered above an engraved American bald eagle emblem. The document formally appoints Walter Kennedy as Postmaster at Templeton in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Directly above the printed line reading "By the PRESIDENT:", Herbert Hoover has rendered a dark, fluid signature in fountain pen ink ("Herbert Hoover"). To the lower left, Postmaster General Walter F. Brown has co-signed the appointment ("Walter F. Brown"), alongside an official blind-embossed seal of the Post Office Department featuring a horseback post rider. Preserved in very good historical condition with minor edge aging and light paper toning, this authenticated presidential appointment serves as an essential centerpiece for collectors of presidential autographs, executive commissions, and American political history.
Consignor Notes
Beautifully signed official Presidential Certificate appointing a U.S. Postmaster, signed by President Herbert Hoover on October 21, 1929, just three days before the "Black Thursday" stock market crash that would send the U.S. into economic turmoil.
The importance of a signature isn't just in the document itself, but in the timeline and context in which it was signed. And Herbert Hoover's life as President was just days away from one of our country's most devastating chapters.
- OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION: Original 1929 executive appointment broadside issued by the United States Post Office Department.
- EMBOSSED DEPARTMENT SEAL: Features an intact, crisp blind-embossed Post Office Department seal depicting a post rider.
- ENGRAVED EXECUTIVE TYPOGRAPHY: Header adorned with prominent arched presidential typography and a heraldic bald eagle vignette.
- HAND-SIGNED BY PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER: Authentically autographed in fountain pen ink by Herbert Hoover ("Herbert Hoover") on his designated signature line.
- CO-SIGNED BY POSTMASTER GENERAL: Co-signed by Postmaster General Walter F. Brown ("Walter F. Brown").
