BARACHIAH BASSET'S INSCRIBED COPY OF THE SOCIETY OF THE

The Institution and Proceedings of the Society of the Cincinnati...May 10, 1783: with the Proceedings of the Massachusetts State Society of the Cincinnati, from its Organization, June 9, 1783, to July 4, 1811. Boston: printed by Thomas B. Wait and Co., 1812. Octavo, 112 pages, with engraved frontispiece, in original printer's boards. The frontispiece is an engraved plate designed by George Graham that handsomely depict the eagle, shield and other devices of the Society. Inscribed on the title page with the ownership signature of an original member, Barachiah Bassett (1732-1813). He was an active patriot and member of the Massachusetts Committee of Public Safety, also serving a captain during the Siege of Boston. Bassett was appointed major in the Continental Line in January 1776 and promoted to lieutenant colonel of Bradford’s 14th (later 12th) Massachusetts Regiment on November 19, 1776. He served with distinction during the Northern campaigns of 1776-1777, including the battles of Freeman’s Farm, wintered at Valley Forge and fought at Monmouth. He retired from service on half-pay when the regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781 and took up privateering for the remainder of the Revolutionary War. CONDITION: Overall very good: the paper spine has extensive loss from chipping, but the boards are quite good; the interior pages have uniform light toning, foxing (primarily in the wide margins), and slight, marginal tears on a few pages, not affecting text. JLK