c. Early 1800, Unique George Washington Memorial Silk Ribbon with Handcrafted Black Borders featuring a central Funeral Urn with Initials “GW” at center, Very Fine.
George Washington Died December 14th, 1799 (age 67 years), at George Washington's Mount Vernon, in Mount Vernon, Virginia. This authentic Unique George Washington Memorial Silk Ribbon is handcrafted in black ink on a proper off-white silk ribbon of the period. This significant ribbon measures 11.5” long x about 1.75” wide displaying a large Funeral Urn with a bold “GW” shaded by a small tree apparently covering the Urn, all within the black border edges all located towards the right side of the ribbon. The detail is sharp and clear, the silk ribbon is even in tone showing some expected prior faint folds, the blank reverse side has been carefully archivally silked for its long-term preservation and potential display. It is difficult to place a specific value on such an important George Washington related item so our estimate may prove too conservative. Overall, this is a remarkable original memorial tribute period artifact, created to honor George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, first President of the United States for whom, without him, there may be no 250th Anniversary Celebration.
George Washington died on December 14, 1799, at age 67 at his Mount Vernon home, likely from acute bacterial epiglottitis (a severe throat infection) caused by a cold. After falling ill following a horse ride in, he passed away between 10 and 11 p.m.. He passed away in his bedroom at Mount Vernon, attended by his wife Martha, friends, and physicians, with his last words, "Tis well".