THE DOCUMENT FOR THE ORDER OF CINCINNATI SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON, DATED 1785, WITH LATER GOLD AND ENAMEL BADGE OF THE ORDER

engraved document signed ("Go: Washington"), being a membership certificate for the Society of the Cincinnati, on parchment, accomplished in a secretarial hand and signed by Washington as president of the Society of the Cincinnati, countersigned by Henry Knox ("HKnox") as secretary, engraved vignettes by Auguste L. Belle after Jean-Jacques Andre LeVeau (from the design of Pierre L'Enfant) depicting America in knight's armor trampling upon the British standard and the American eagle casting the British lion and Britannia out to sea with thunderbolts, depictions of both sides of the medal of the Order of the Cincinnati within roundels, Mount Vernon, Philadelphia, 5 May 1785, being the certificate of membership admitting Frederick Frye to the Society, in gilt frame; the badge in enameled gold, suspended from a silk ribbon, framed.

trimmed square, shaving the engraving at top margin, and mounted on thin card, small hole at old central fold, light spotting and discoloration. The badge with slight enamel loss or discoloration on some of the green leaves, fading to ribbon, not examined out of frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Frederick Frye was an commissioned an Ensign in the 1st Massachusetts in February 1781 and served with the Continental Army through November 1783. He subsequently served as a Captain of Artillerists and Engineers in the Legion of the United States and the Army of the United States, from 1794 until his honorable discharge in 1802.

The badge seems to correspond to the New York Eagle of 1870, which was made by the firm of Colby and Johnson.  First created in 1870, the firm produced the badge throughout the decade, so this eagle was probably acquired by Lt. Frye's family around the American Centennial in replacement for a lost badge.