in the field record – LINCOLN issued / EMBALMER’s PASS Penned under the official heading of the Office of the Provost Marshal General, Armies operating against Richmond is the following:

The Quartermaster and Provost Marshal will give free transportation , by regular Government Boat or Rail, to I. L. Marshall and to C. B. Chamberlain, to and from the Army of the Potomac, for themselves, and everything necessary in the business as Embalmers, and will respect and not take up this or the regular Pass given them by Secretary of War or the Surgeon General.

[signed] A. Lincoln, Sept. 10,1864 / A true Copy-Irvin B. Wright -1st Lt & A. D. C.

This single sheet penned on Provost Martial stationary by 1st Lt. & A. D. C. Irvin B. Wright, (Serving in the 11th U. S. Regulars and brevetted at Gettysburg, Lt. Wright became Aid DeCamp to Grant’s Provost Gen. Patrick.) was done in the field to provide a true copy record of a pass issued by Lincoln personally and presented by the EMBALMERS I. L. Marshall and C. B. Chamberlain. A copy made necessary as the President had directed that the original not be taken up. The document is entirely original and remains in excellent condition save archival reinforcing tape on the back at the folds. While I. L. Marshall is not familiar to us and will require some additional research, we do know C. B. Chamberlain as a prominent embalming surgeon who worked in and around Gettysburg as an aftermath of the battle. He and his partner at that time (Chamberlain & Layford) appear in a well known staged Gettysburg photo of an embalming. (see: Coffins, Kits, And More! Stories of the Civil War Embalmers by Lee Ward)
As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!

 

Civil War era TRAVELING DOMINO SET A complete set of period hand cut bone dominoes all in nice condition with an attractive age patina. We have seen these small period sets before but they are usually housed in a small hand sewn cloth bag for easy carrying. This set comes as found in a nice little dovetailed, slide-top box of white pine. (News paper lining is dated 1862.) Illustrated here with a U.S. Quarter for size comparison, this little set of dominoes will make a fine addition to any Civil War personal item grouping or game collection. please note: ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!!

 

C/W BLANKET of: 12th NHV ‘FIGHTING PARSON’- Capt. John M. Durgin This beautiful bright red wool identified blanket remains in pleasing condition with no major faults but with god evidence of period use. It is offered with a companion M1851 sword belt plate both used by Capt. John M. Durgin Co. B 12th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. Acquired from a direct descendant who inherited several mementoes of Capt. Durgin, the blanket and belt plate will come with what the new owner will agree offers solid provenance. The blanket and officers eagle plate represent all that was made available to us and will come with the following as provenance: *The name and currant address of the descendant at the time the group was acquired. * A letter attesting to purchase of the relics from the descendant. (The author of this letter is a knowledgeable / reputable collector well known to us for many years.) * A photo of the descendant’s sitting room mantle with Durgin’s sword and oil portrait. * A copy of an erroneous period news report of Dirgin’s death on the field at Chancellorsville. * Our own letter attesting to the fact that the this blanket and plate was aquired with the afore mentioned provenance. *

The cot size blanket measures approximately 64 x 72 and remains in excellent condition after decades of careful storage. (While it will take some further research our historic textile collector felt the blanket was originally of Mexican War issue and that such were purchased from surplus by the state of New Hampshire for re-issue during the Civil War.)

A Free Baptist Minister who studies at a Parsonsfield (Me.) Seminary. John Milton Durgin was ordained in 1838 with his first church located in Gray, Me., 1840-2. A resident of Gilmanton NH Rev. Durgin enlisted as a member of the 12 NHV Aug. 14, 1862 and was commissioned 1st lieutenant, Company B, Sept. 8. He was promoted to captain, Co. H, May 4, 1863 and transferred to the Invalid Corps, Jan. 25, 1864. Known to his fellow soldiers and to history as The Fighting Parson (see: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men by F. A. Barnard) Shot through the body by a minie ball at Chancellorsville, the Fighting Preacher lay on the field left for dead for three days without food, shelter, or medical aid. It was recorded that but for the Masonic sign of distress to a Confederate officer, his body would soon have been buried beneath the soil. That sign brought water, and saved his life. A Confederate ball had passed directly through him, between the lower lobe of the left lung and the diaphragm. Within six months after he was reported dead, Durgin reported for duty rejoining the 12th NHV at Point Lookout. Despite his willingness Durgin was deemed unfit for camp or field duty and was sent back to Concord on recruiting service. It was as a result of this incident that the local paper carried a mistaken report on the death of the gutsy Fighting Parson. Upon recovery of his wounds Durgin was commissioned as Capt. Co. C, 22nd Veteran Reserve Corps. On 5/27/1864 he transferred to the 10th VRC. He was discharged on 11/23/1865. (see: Asa W. Bartlett History of the Twelfth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion) An outstanding offering. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!

 

Civil War Staff Officer Button – STICK PIN This attractive little stick-pin retains it’s period gold straight pin and head fashioned from a union staff cuff button. Such straight pins were frequently made up by local jewelers for attachment to a uniform button and worn as a memento of a family member or loved one serving in or lost to the Union cause. Once a relatively common find mixed in with antique estate jewelry, these attractive uniform button pins are now difficult to find.

 

Civil War MEDICAL CANTEEN Remaining in excellent plus condition with no dent, rust or condition issues of any kind this flat, kidney shaped, canteen measures approximately 9 ¾ inches across it’s face by 6 5/8 inches high by 1 ¾ of an inch thick. It retains it’s period harness leather strap. Seldom surviving outside of major museum and private collections, such a canteen was on display in the medical section of the old Gettysburg Visitor’s Center Museum before their recent move. A Medical Department marked example appears in Damman’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments & Equipment from the authors personal collection and a variation of the type may be seen published in Sylvia & O’Donnell’s CIVIL WAR CANTEENS . That example was from the well known Beverly Dubose Confederate collection. A fine example of a very difficult to find canteen type, this offering is, like all we offer, guaranteed to please. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.

 

A SPECIAL PRICING NOTE These are lean times for many and for many more simply a good time to be cautious with a dollar.

In recognition of this we are placing additional emphasis on our long practice of offering a quality mix of material in all price ranges additionally we are reviewing our current pricing with an eye toward price reduction. Accordingly if you find something you’d like but would like to try for a lesser price send us an e-mail with a reasonable offer and if we can, we will do our best work with you. As always our goal is to provide visitors our site with a pleasant, entertaining and informative opportunity with an opportunity to buy at a fair price at all levels of the monetary spectrum.

Those of you who know us are aware that Janet and I have been chasing down antiques, collecting, buying, selling and swapping with a vengeance since we were youngsters in high school. (Don’t tell anyone but between us, that’s 45 years times 2 now for lots of years and lots of neat stuff.)

Our keen interest in what we use to call smalls, that is to say utilitarian items used in the daily life of common folk, military and civilian, has left us with a sizeable accumulation of interesting things, all getting more and more difficult to find at any price.

In our effort to place additional priority on buying opportunity reflective of a more conservative time, visitors to our site will be treated to an ever more diverse offering of quality collectables.

As in the past our highest priority will continue be on authenticity, quality and client satisfaction.


 

Civil War era CONFEDERATE SHAVING & TOILET SOAP / STENCIL You can always tell the old time dealer / collectors because they tend to sell off those really neat old pieces that a younger enthusiast would keep for sure. A history of 40 + years of accumulating ‘neat stuff’ has clearly brought Janet and I to a place where it makes sense to disperse of some especially coveted personal treasure on occasion. This neat, all original Civil War vintage marking stencil surely falls in that category. Measuring approximately 3 1/16 X 1 7/8 inches this stencil remains in excellent, original condition offering the following: CONFEDERATE TOILET & SHAVING SOAPS / MAN’FACT’D BY R. S. POWELL / WAYSIDE MECK’BG CO. VA. We found our man, R. S. Powell in the 1860 U. S. Census where he is recorded as R. S. Powell born in 1830 and living in the Broun household, Mecklenburg county, Virginia. He is listed in the Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia as serving in the 13th Virginia Cavalry for twelve months in 1861 / 1862. (see also: Historical Data Systems, Inc. database) Worthy of some additional research, Powell must have been a bit of an entrepreneur utilizing the patriotic fervor of the Confederacy to promote sales of his CONFEDERATE toilet & shaving soap. (We have a period YANKEE brand soap box in our personal collection but the CONFEDERATE counterpart is the first we have seen.) A wonderful Confederate item for the Civil War sutler and personal item collection!
(We have another Civil War, Confederate related stencil that can be viewed by searching for our item # 3345) The two came out of the woodwork together and we will work with you on the price to keep the pair together. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!


 

Sailor’s letter: U.S.S. WILMINGTON / HONG KONG, CHINA / c. 1908 A bit out of our usual time period but a piece that will be appreciated, is this American Sailor’s letter written from the U.S.S. Wilmington in Hong Kong, China, early in 1908. Very legibly penned on twenty-five, 4 ½ x 7 inch pages, Seaman Harry Floyd’s letter is to his cousin Susie. It offers the reader rare incite into the life and impressions of a young U. S. Navy sailor serving in newly opened and still mysterious, to the outside world, dark nation of China. As he writes our sailor has just returned from the southeast port town of Swatow, China. He offered the details of the mysterious death of a shipmate. A bit of an entrepreneur, Floyd advises I could have gone on liberty today but I lent out all of my money to interest so I even had to borrow some to pay my Chinese wash-women. He offers his personal opinion of the missionaries and their work and advises that the Chinamen don’t want them here at all, they kill them every time they get a good chance, he recounts sitting at the dinner table with a man who’s wife and children had been killed by the Chinese down near Canton in the spring of 1905. He writes of the Chinese practice of foot binding expressing his feeling that sometimes wonder which is worse for the Chinese to bind up the feet of their little girls or some of our dear ones at home doing some of the things they do. He writes, I have seen thousands of the little footed women and girls and they all look happy. A rather profound young man in his considerations, our sailor comments that the Chinese were always great gamblers and that they smoked opium but expresses that our own country is more corrupt than China ever was. On the lighter side our young sailor writes that we had a great time yesterday, it was Washington’s birthday and we had to show the British how to eat, drink and celebrate; in the forenoon we had a boat race, potato race, tug-of-war and greased pole. A sailor from Boston town got the $5.00 U.S. money on the top of it. With lots more interesting insight, this letter will be a treat to anyone interested in this period in American / Chinese relations.

 

fire blued / wire rimed – Civil War era SPECTACLES Except for the most minor evidence of age as testimony to originality, these simple iron wire framed spectacles remain in all but new condition. With crisp lenses and the retention of virtually all the original bright, fire blue, finish on these typically slender frames, these specials will stand out in any quality period display. please note: ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!!

 

Civil War era HAIR OIL BOTTLE A must for every well groomed Civil War era dandy, civilian or military, on those infrequent occasions of socializing in mixed company, a spot of rose- water scented hair oil was sure to offer the advantage with the young ladies. This little stopper bottle stands approximately 3 3/8 inches and remains in excellent condition with no chips stains or cracks and sports a colorful, original ROSE / HAIR OIL label put up by C. B. Woodworth / ROCHESTER CHEMICAL WORKS (see: 1862 Rochester N.Y. Business Directory) A supporter of the Union cause, Woodworth’s Chemical Works participated in the 1863 Rochester LADIES HOSPITAL RELIEF ASSOCIATION Christmas Bazaar. At the Chicago Great Sanitary Fair proceeds of the sale of Rochester Chemical Works products were donated to that soldiers aid society. (see: Central Library / Rochester’s Historical Monograph Collection) An attractive little personal memento with a neat Soldier’s Aid Society association.
Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.

 

tin MEDICATION / SHOT CUP Offering meaning to the old phrase One for the road ! this sturdy little tinned sheet iron cup or jigger stands a mere 1 ¾ inch high and flairs from a 1 ½ inch diameter base to a 2 inch wide mouth. Whether intended for medication, spirits or one and the same as was frequently a fact, this little lap-seamed and soldered vestal would make a nice addition to any Civil War era haversack, travel or medical chest. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.  

13th New Hampshire Infantry / Civil War Soldier’s - MARKING STENCIL Seldom seen in the original pasteboard box as is this example, the simple hand cut sheet brass marking stencil was a staple of every soldier’s personal gear. As is the case even today, living in close quarters and with so much of what he had looking just as the other fellows, Army life required that nearly every article of clothing and personal property be marked for identification. Darius W. Tuttle, a Private of Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Volunteers found no exception the practice, it seams, as his 2 ½ x 1 ¼ inch personal marking stencil survives today housed in it’s original container. The pasteboard lid of the box offers the first aid to conclusive identity. Not as easily read as one would like but with the help of bright light, magnifier, then the old standby black light, we were led to our New Hampshire Civil War roster. Co. F 1?th NH came into focus as Co. F 13th NH as we found Darius W. Tuttle listed as a Private there. Finally our owner’s rather uncommon first name in combination with the middle initial and last name offered conclusive identification as database searches of Broadfoot, Historical Data Systems and National Park Service rosters produced a single match for Darius W. Tuttle. (Just to be sure we ran a search of the 1860 U. S. Senses. That effort found but one match, the same Darius W. Tuttle who would serve in the 13th N. H.) A 27 year old resident of Strafford, New Hampshire when he enlisted on August 22, 1862 and mustered in just shy of a month later as a Pvt. of Co. F 13th N.H.V. Twice wounded (Cold Harbor 6/3/1864 – Fort Harrison 0/29/1864) before mustering out with the Regiment, Pvt. Tuttle’s hard fought outfit would, in addition to many other engagements, see action at such as Fredericksburg, Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor, Siege of Petersburg, Mine Explosion, Fort Harrison, Fair Oaks, occupation of Richmond where the 13th N. H. V. furnished the first troops, and its colors were the first to enter the city. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!


 

Civil War era Hard Rubber – WRITING GUIDE Once in common use, the writing guide looks at first glance simply like a modern ruler without numbers or graduations. It was used not to measure but as it’s name implies, simply as a guide to aid in penning letters and ledger entries in a day when fine penmanship was the norm. In use from before the 1700s by the mid 1850s the old standard wooden writing guides began to appear in the new hard rubber material process patented by Goodyear. This Civil War era example measures approximately 10 inches in length and 1 inch wide with no markings. The guide remains in excellent all original condition with minimal evidence of period use and handling as testimony to it’s age and originality. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.  

earlier 1800s through Civil War era TRAVELING INK This screw top traveling ink should not be confused with the bottle type used with ready to use liquid ink but was intended for the carrying of ink powder generally in travel. The small amount of powder or pellets held by this screw top container would make as much as a quart of writing ink when dissolved in water. As such, dissolved and mixed as needed, a little at a time, the little traveling ink could supply sufficient writing ink to last the average traveler or soldier for an indefinite period. This example was turned from walnut and remains in excellent original condition with no cracks of flaws. A rich natural patina and evidence of period use is testimony of age and originality.  

Civil War era boxed - IVORY CHECKERS Illustrated here with a U.S. Quarter for size comparison, these checkers are of turned ivory, natural and stained with vegetable die to provide color to the red game pieces. All complete and in excellent condition, the full complement of game pieces remain in there period dovetailed, slide top box of lacquered yellow pine. A nice complement to go with a small game board. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!