Engraved election certificate of 'The New York Historical Society', with engraved illustration by Simond, engraved by Durand, of 'The arrival of Henry Hudson on the 4th. Septr. 1609'.

Printed on one side of a piece of thick wove paper, watermarked 'G REIG', roughly 53 x 41 cm. Worn and a little spotted and grubby, with creasing and wear to extremities, but good overall, with text and design clear and entire. Handsome boldly designed certificate. Not filled in and with no manuscript additions whatsover. The illustration, an oval roughly 12 x 17 cm, shows the ship approaching white cliffs on shore, with a boat containing seven natives in the foreground. The text, in gothic and copperplate, reads 'The New York Historical Society Instituted in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four Have elected a Member In Testimony of which we have affixed our hands and the Seall of the Society this day of 18 From the Hall of the Society. President Secretary Vice Presidts.'