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William Allibone Autograph Signature Clip “Master Warden” Port of Philadelphia 1790s
From the collection of Frank D Andrews, purchase from an sale of items he donated to the Vineland Historical Society.
Offered here is anearly American autograph signature clipofWilliam Alliboneof Philadelphia—signed “Wm Allibone” with an accompanying office notation that appears to read“Master Warden”(underlined). Allibone is documented as aPhiladelphia merchant and ship captain, associated with the brigCharleston Packet, and he served in key civic/maritime roles includingcommissioner for the defense of the Delaware Bay and River (1782)andWarden of the Port of Philadelphia (1788), rising to chief/master warden by 1790.
SIGNATURE ANALYSIS
Signer: William Allibone (signature reads as “Wm Allibone”).
Additional inscription/title: appears to read “Master Warden” (written to the right, with an underline beneath the first word). This matches the port-warden context you provided and is consistent with the historical office of “Master Warden”/chief warden at the port.
Handwriting characteristics:
Flowing late-18th-century cursive with strong confidence and speed
Prominent capital W and tall, narrow ascenders (notably in the “ll” strokes)
Heavy initial downstrokes and a long decorative terminal flourish beneath the surname
Ink shows natural variation (darker pooled strokes and lighter upstrokes), typical of quill/early pen use
Ink & medium: dark brown iron-gall–type appearance (visually consistent with period writing, though not proof).
Apparent authenticity indicators (cautious):
Letterforms, pen pressure, and ink behavior appear consistent with late-1700s handwriting
The “title + signature” format fits how officials sometimes signed endorsements or extracted examples
As always, this is not a definitive authentication—only a consistency assessment from the image
Physical attributes (from the photo):
A trimmed signature slip (cut from a larger document) on cream laid/aged paper
Light overall toning; minor edge wear from trimming; no visible seal/watermark in this scan
No obvious folds visible (likely because it’s a clipped portion)
DOCUMENT SUMMARY
Type: Autograph signature clip with office notation (“Master Warden”).
Era (estimated): Late 18th century (fits the documented activity dates you cited: 1780s–1790).
Geography: Philadelphia (explicitly tied to port/warden role); Delaware River/Bay defense context aligns with his known appointments. Delaware Bay
SIGNER BIO
William Allibone — Philadelphia merchant and ship captain active in the late 18th century. He is documented as master and part-owner of the brig “Charleston Packet,” served as a commissioner for the defense of the Delaware Bay and River (1782), and held port leadership roles as Warden of the Port of Philadelphia (1788) and chief warden / master warden (by 1790).
Birth/death years: not reliably stated in the core reference summary located; best to describe him by role and active dates unless you have a source for vital dates.
COLLECTOR INTEREST
Why this plays well to multiple buyer groups:
Autograph collectors: clean, bold period signature with strong flourish; bonus official title inscription.
Philadelphia / maritime historians: ties to port administration, shipping, and coastal infrastructure.
Revolutionary-era / early Republic collectors: commissioner role for Delaware Bay defense (1782) places him in wartime logistics and coastal security.
Genealogists: surname interest + strong locality anchor (Philadelphia) makes it searchable and collectible.
Offered here is an early American autograph signature clip of William Allibone of Philadelphia—signed “Wm Allibone” with an accompanying office notation that appears to read “Master Warden” (underlined). Allibone is documented as a Philadelphia merchant and ship captain, associated with the brig Charleston Packet, and he served in key civic/maritime roles including commissioner for the defense of the Delaware Bay and River (1782) and Warden of the Port of Philadelphia (1788), rising to chief/master warden by 1790.
Historical significance: This is an appealing piece for collectors of Philadelphia maritime history, early U.S. port administration, and Revolutionary/Early Republic-era civic officials.
Related Items:
Wm Allibone Autograph Signature Clip “Master Warden” Port of Philadelphia 1790s
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