Here is a chance to see the last original unfinished great seal eagle copper plates that Amos Doolittle of New Haven made. These were found hidden in a barn that was his last work shop just blocks away from the harbor.
You can click on the green link above that say’s “Amos Doolittle” and read what took me three years to find Doolittle’s single letter “D” mark that is found on all of his known documented works. The document has more than enough example images that Doolittle historians and scholars have to accept as authentic. Another amazing discovery is that there are a few historical engravings that prove Doolittle was under the guild umbrella of Robert Scot of Philadelphia. You can see the additional makers marks of documented engravings by Doolittle that show Francis Shallus, Robert Scot , James Trenchard and James Thackera’s letter initial makers marks.
The evidence on the last page ruled out that Doolittle’s student did not do any of the engravings seen on this document. The “J” and “JT” mystery man who worked with Doolittle on these copper plates was none other than James Thackera. One of the original great seal makers, the son in law of James Trenchard. Thackera was one of the first curators of the first school of art in United States, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts of Philadelphia from 1816-1828.
Thackera is best known for being one of the original engravers who made the very first engraved city map of Washington, DC. commissioned by President George Washington. Today you can often see this map image on tv with the mysteries of the map grid of the cities original designer Pierre Charles L’Enfant. The most studied Freemason city design of hidden geometry with celestial secrets associated.
The mystery I was challenged with was why was Doolittle allowed to use the original design of the Philadelphia engravers great seal birds, wing design? The answer is now simple to say that Thackera worked with Doolittle on several projects and he helped Doolittle on these grand eagle plates that survive. These eagle plates are the most significant great seal birds surviving in US history, for the massive size and for the high quality of workmanship. These are the last major works of the original Revolutionary War engravers to survive and being a leading great seal historian. The plates are the best that I have ever seen made, where they were trying to preserve the true design of the great seal as being a Phoenix and not a bald eagle. The four arrows represent the history of the Royal Archers of Scotland. The ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign’s Bodyguard in Scotland. Currently known as the Queen’s Bodyguard For Scotland, and is located at Edinburgh. The Royal Company of Archers has a long history in Scotland as a body that celebrated both the recreation and talent of local archers. As a royally-established body, the company has a long history of unique prizes, powerful supporters, and ceremonial powers.
Robert Scot’s teacher introduced the three arrows to the great seal design in honor of his engraving master Sir Robert Strange. Strange was the bodyguard of the exiled Scottish Prince Charles Edward Stuart and as I have proved! The true US great seal phoenix represents the rebirth of the House of Stuart in America and the three arrows represented the Scottish archery competitions associated to the royal bodyguards. Scot introduced these three arrows in honor of his teacher that symbolized these traditions of the Scottish guard that date back to his families as far back as the early 1600’s on American Eagle or Phoenix buttons and the 1789 George Washington Inaugural The theory is that this history has more to do with the loyalty of the archers who died with James IV at the battle of Flodden in 1513. History that represents Scottish loyalty to their Sovereigns for hundreds of years and the three & four arrows may represent this directly. Another theory is the famous three arrows legend “The Weird Of The Three Arrows” representing the history of Sir Jame Douglas, the Champion of Bruce, and better known as the “Black Douglas” and his encounter with the old women and the three arrows that killed her sons by the English. The Webb horn document I wrote, associated the arm of Good Sir James design being directly associated to the origin’s of the Stars & Stripes.
Here with the Doolittle eagles we see the “Four” Arrows that would still represent same history meaning, with the added arrow that may represent the passing of Robert Scot in 1823, only with the symbolism of American Eagle and arrows. The four arrows represent the competition traditions of the Musselburgh Arrow, the Preebles Arrow, the Selkirk Arrow and the Edinburgh arrows. My additional theory is the medals won with the archer competitions associated greater story to be told. Scot and James Trenchard could have made some of these medals. Trenchard left Philadelphia in 1793 to work in the Uk in association to Scot’s families, is all that is known about him today. They were busy with making coins, medals, paper currency and many other art works. My honest bet is that if they worked on some of these archers medals, then they manipulated the art that tells a far greater and different story. They were were good at doing that, if you read my research on them.
NOTES: This is just the beginning on the study of the arrow history. The research on the three and four arrows history with US great seals, George Washington buttons and Pine tree guild symbolism that will be presented in the near future is my intellectual property! May I also announce that I am no longer affiliated or associated to George Washington Inaugural Buttons, Isabela’s site.
American Relic Hysteries 