Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

412 GEOBGIA AND GEOEGIANS
lodged in the executive office at Louisville, on or before the 20th of April,
1799. At the same time, it was ordered that proposals be submitted by
the same date for making and engraving the device; and July 3, 1799,
was fixed as a limit within which to complete the contract.
Governor Brown was fortunate enough to procure copies of the
Louisville Gazette for subsequent dates; and, in an issue of the paper,
dated March 7, 1799, he found this paragraph, the statement contained
in which throws an important side-light upon the history of the great
seal. The paragraph reads as follows:
'' We understand that the device approved of by the Governor for the
Great Seal of this State was drawn by Mr. Sturges, the state surveyor-
general. The most elegant drawing sent to the Executive Department
was performed by Mr. Charles Frazer, of South Carolina, and which we
are assured would have obtained the premium had he not through mis
take placed all the figures on one side instead of making a reverse. This
young artist we are informed is but sixteen years of age—his genius is
great, and deserves encouragement. Several other handsome perform- '
ances were sent to the Executive."
In a still later issue of the same paper, Governor Brown completed
his quest for information in regard to the great seal by discovering the
full name and title of the designer, in a card announcing his business
—Daniel Sturges, surveyor-general. It is late in the day to bestow upon
the designer of the Great Seal of Georgia the honor to which he is unde
niably entitled. But justice often lags. The historic page is full of
tardy recognitions; and, after the lapse of more than a century, Georgia,
with the help of an honored governor, removes the dust which has long
rested upon one of her brightest names. Hereafter let no one forget to
honor this pioneer Georgian to whose artistic genius is due the Gre«t
Seal of the Commonwealth.
To use the great seal, wax was rolled out into thin wafers. Gilt paper,
cut circular in form, the exact size of the die, with serrated edges, was
next laid upon each side of the wax wafer; and, at the same time, rib
bons were inserted between the wafer and the paper discs. This done,
the wafer was then placed between the plates of the die and stamped
tightly, leaving the devices imprinted on either side of the soft wax and
revealed, like an engraving, on the gilded paper. This was then attached
by narrow ribbons to the document of state, forming what is known as a
wax pendant.
The custom of attaching seals of this character to official documents,
is extremely ancient, dating back to the earliest manuscript of record in
the oldest states of the Union. Since then a method of stamping which
cuts an impression in the paper to be attested has come into general
vogue, and the use of the wax wafer by means of ribbons, in the manner
above described, has become obsolete. Georgia until 1915 was the only
state which still adhered to this antiquated custom, and the reluctance of
our lawmakers to adopt the new method was only an expression of the
conservative spirit which has always characterized the typical Georgian.
As to the purposes for which the great seal is used, there is a lack of
correct information even on the part of some who are supposed to be