Identified Civil War era WALLET An exceptionally nice Civil War vintage folding wallet remains in excellent condition and yet offers eye appealing evidence of age and originality. Measuring approximately 4 X 7 ½ inches when closed this classically designed mans wallet opens to revile several individual sections for the keeping of paper currency and important documents. A bold period brown ink inscription tells us that the wallet was presented to R. F. Wheeler / Wales [Illinois], by Reuben H. Beals. Our search of the Historical Data Systems database produced a single Reuben Beals. He was a resident of Cumberland County, Illinois when on August 31, 1861 he enlisted and was mustered in as a Corporal of Co. A 5th Illinois Cavalry. He was mustered out August 30,1864. Our search for R. F. Wheeler resulted in a single hit. Robert F. Wheeler (no residence listed) served as a Lieutenant in the 24th Ohio Infantry. He is listed as missingon August 31, 1862 with no further record. We did find three R. Wheelers (no middle initial) who were Illinois residents serving in Illinois Regiments. A quick search for the town of Wales, Illinois in the HDS database produced a single hit but no town service record was given. We have priced this piece for the wallet alone and without regard for the inscription so how definitive all this is, is left to the discretion of the reader. An especially nice Civil War vintage wallet though, worthy of some attention and this is a place to start.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

1849 BOSTON ALMANAC This nice little pocket size 1849 Boston Almanac by S. N. Dickson was published by B. B. Mussey & Co. and Thomas Groom of that city. Hardbound in embossed library board this neat 49er guide shows fading with good evidence of period wear and age but remains complete and original with a tight binding and no tears or repairs. In addition to the expected business directory the almanac offers the highlights of important events in Boston for 1847 and 1848, a rather lengthy article to the invalid & consumptive regarding travel and wintering in Florida along with weather prognostication. There are 24 architectural illustrations of Boston’s public schools, a account of the major fires in the city occurring in 1847 and 1848 and of course a listing of streets, governmental officials both city and state. Not a big deal but interesting reading and a nice personal item of the period. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


Manufacturer: B. B. Mussey & Co. and Thomas Groom / Boston  

Civil War era Portland Starr - TIN MATCH BOX & SHEET MATCHES Occasionally seen in years past (here in the greater Portland area) we haven’t seen one of these little antique Portland Match Co. tins in years. Hand fabricated of thin, tinned sheet iron this little approximately 3 X 2 X 2 1/8 inch hinged lid match box with its’ hand soldered construction was touted by the manufacturer as a safety device for travel and storage. This example retains a full complement of three original sheet match tissue packets with three additional sheets. A really nice companion item for the Civil War personal item collector, smoking or lighting enthusiast. 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.
Manufacturer: Portland Match Co. , Portland Maine  

Civil War era DONUT type TRAVELING CANDLESTICK A nice all original brass candlestick in a style commonly referred to by Civil War and lighting collectors as a donut candlestick. The candle holder or socket unscrews from the base for easy carrying. Light in weight and easily tucked away in haversack or knapsack, the style was a favorite among soldiers who could afford a complete set of two that screwed together as well as those more frugal fellows who would split the cost of a set with each carrying a single example as is offered here. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

Spanish American War - GLASS LANTERN SLIDE An especially appealing and colorful hand colored magic lantern slide depicting the aftermath of battle and medical care of the wounded. The glass slide is hand tinted in oils and measures 4 X 3 ¼ inches. Generally too expensive for personal ownership these colorful glass slides were produced and hand tinted in oils in limited number and were most popular in turn of the century veteran and community halls where traveling ’projectionists’ presented their patriotic slide shows to enthusiastic GAR and like Civil War veteran groups. This example is all original and in excellent condition with good strong color. This desirable view will display nicely projected or against soft backlighting or simply set against a light background.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

Civil War era tariff marked BONE DICE Measuring approximately 7/16 of an inch square, we have the advantage of being able to unquestionably date the period of such hand cut bone dice by virtue of the faint but discernable* red CROWN & G. R. marking on each of the two gaming pieces. (These marks were required by British export law during the American Civil War era to record and enforce payment of export tax on gaming devices sent to the American market.) A staple of the Civil War camp or period saloon this original period pair remain in excellent condition and yet demonstrate all the characteristics of period hand cut bone gaming pieces. Clearly hand cut with dots that are somewhat irregular these dice will be quickly recognized for what they are in your collection display. [ *Please note that these original CROWN & GR tariff marks were small and were impressed into the bone with red pigment rubbed into the light impression. With time and use most if not all of the original red pigment has been worn away in most cases leaving the faintest trace of the original CROWN & GR. Identification of the remaining tariff marking will requiring close examination of the rare old hand cut die.] 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!


Manufacturer: Civil War British Export  

19th century Passamaquoddy Indian – BEAR CLAW NECKLACE Acquired from an old collection of Maine Indian artifacts dating back three generations, this wonderful old Maine black bear claw necklace is guaranteed an original example of mid to late 1800s Passamaquoddy folk art. Fashioned from Maine black bear claws and hand crafted bone beads strung on a lash of tanned hide, this piece will be sure to please. A rare original artifact for the Native American enthusiast and early Americana collector. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
Manufacturer: Native American  

antique – BONE TATTING SHUTTLE Photographed here with a Civil War era quarter for size comparison is a nice early tatting shuttle. Hand cut from bone and offering the subtle patina that comes to bone with age and lots of period handling, this piece will lay in well in any Civil War era sewing basket or period sewing grouping. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


Manufacturer: American Antique  

Civil War & earlier U. S. ARMY BELL This attractive bronze collar bell measures approximately 3 ¾ inches across the mouth and 3 ¾ inches high. The bell sports an attractive cast in panoply of American Eagles with shield, banner and star bursts. Examples of these bells, with an account of their origin, may be seen in the U. S. Army Quartermaster Museum collection at Fort Lee Virginia. These bells were cast under contract to the U. S. Army during the pre Civil War Pierce and Buchanan administrations and were used by experimental Army camel pack trains moving from Texas to the West Coast. (Camels were trained to follow the lead or Bell Camel during long marches from Texas to the West coast). The bells are said to have been pressed into use by the Army during the Civil War. Collectors of that era frequently referring to these artifacts as Union Cavalry Bells referencing Dr. Francis Lord’s Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia. Though the last thirty-five or forty years we have come across no more than a half dozen of these beautiful early military bells as we have scoured the countryside for Civil War and earlier American treasures. Aside from the rare offering from an old collection or antique dealer, our finds have been here in Maine emanating from old farms and cattle barns where they had been utilized with horse teams and cattle. Though we have never seen period ads for such this leads us to believe these fine old patriotically embellished bronze bells were available as army surplus in early post Civil War years. Though nicely colored by age and obviously an original period casting, this bell remains in fine as new condition. A nice find for the early American West or Civil War collector. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

original Civil War CONFEDERATE Child’s Uniform This wonderful child size Confederate Cavalry forage cap and caped coat with web belt and clipped corner style belt plate remain in fine conditioned and are without question original to the period. This grouping is unique to anything we have seen in our 35 plus years of scouring every imaginable potential source for such things to include innumerable estate groupings, finest private collections and most prestigious museum collections. While our photos will offer more than we can articulate, we will do our best here to offer a full and accurate description of this outstanding Confederate grouping. First let us state that the construction of the outfit in it’s entirety is consistent with style, material and methods of the Civil War period. Stitching is a typical combination of machine and hand work. The coarsely loomed material is of the classic natural butternut most frequently associated with Confederate use. The entire thing is in fine condition with no mothing and little or no evidence of wear. We attribute the extra nice condition and lack of wear to fortunate storage conditions and the small, toddler size which would have meant our little Confederate would have quickly outgrown his beautiful outfit. (The coat measures approximately 18 inches from bottom hem to collar and the cap is approximately 6 inches in diameter.) The coat is fashioned from panels of material, with a couple of small hand stitched repairs that seem to have been made to salvage the swatch of leftover or scrap material for use in making the coat. Recognizing that the butternut material and cavalry yellow herringbone tape are entirely consistent with Confederate uniform use, we expect the entire thing was made from remnants left to the cutting table, floor or remnant bin of a uniform making operation. (The availability of remnants and leftovers to mill and manufactory workers for personal use was a common practice in the period.) The period military style ball buttons are clearly original to the coat as is all else in this grouping. The rich natural age patina of the buttons complement the appeal of this lovingly made child’s coat. The yellow cloth tape, hand stitched to the garment, is of classic period military use and is unquestionably original to coat and cap.

The 1.25 inch wide waist belt is of the typical period cotton web and boasts a wonderful 1.5 X 2 inch sheet brass belt plate. This belt plate alone will be a of interest to the Confederate collector / historian as it demonstrates classic features of these popularly used sheet brass plates. (see: L. W. Keim’s Confederate General Service Accoutrement Plates Fig. 600) In fine condition but with a nice untouched age patina this little plate with it’s lead soldered iron wire hooks would stand well alone in the collecting community.

Now to what the headgear folks will feel is the most desirable piece in this outstanding grouping. Once again we will rely on our photography to speak the loudest. This beautiful little butternut forage cap with it’s cavalry yellow tape (matching that on the coat) remains in fine condition in all respects. As is so commonly encountered in Confederate forage caps this wonderful piece of headgear sports a figured cotton lining, glazed gauze sweatband and tarred and bound bill. The configuration of this beautiful little Confederate Cavalry cap is classic. Another component of this lovely grouping that could well stand alone in any quality collection. (A PRICE ON REQUEST item.) 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!





Manufacturer: hand made antique  

1864 / 1865 dated & identified – FOLK ART SLIDE TOP BOX Illustrated here with a Civil War era quarter for size comparison is an attractive little slide top box, handmade from American walnut in the popular shape of a book. Its covers nicely cut with M. S. HILL 9-1864 on one side and N. SWEET 1865 GLENSFALLS on the other, the box is lined and divided into two compartments by a rich period textile suggesting intended use as a jewelry box. The history of the nicely carved memento, clearly made and gifted one to the other has unfortunately been lost in time. We found but one New York N. Sweet serving in the Civil War. He was eighteen year old Newton Sweet (local residence not given) who mustered in on August 27, 1862 as Pvt., Co. A, 125th New York Infantry. Taken as a prisoner of war at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia September 15, 1862 Pvt. Sweet was quickly paroled. On September 3, 1863 he was transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps. His date and method of discharge not are not given. No M. S. Hill is listed as serving from New York strengthening a likelihood Hill was indeed lady friend recipient of Pvt. Sweet’s folk art gift. Reasonable speculation based on official records but speculation none the less. A nice piece of Civil War vintage folk art all the same and we have tried to reflect necessary additional research in our price. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
Manufacturer: handcrafted Antique  

early Civil War era DRUM MAJOR BATON A scarce artifact from our nearly 40 years of seeking out Civil War vintage Americana, this attractive military drum major baton measures approximately 43 ½ inches in total length and remains in wonderful unpolished and untouched condition with a rich natural age patina on the heavy brass head and tip fittings. The oak shaft retains its period shellac finish and sports its original solid but age faded old dragoon orange cord wrapping. The baton head retains its original American Eagle embellishment as seen in Civil War military accessory supplier, Schuyler, Hartley & Graham’s period catalogues. All in pleasing condition yet with good evidence of age and originality, this attractive drum major baton will make a fine addition to any Civil War collection and will be of special interest to the collector of period musical accessory, musical instrument and military band memorabilia. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

NEWPORT ARTILLERY Rhode Island Colonel’s epaulettes This wonderful boxed set of extra rich epaulettes are each signed HORSTMAN BROTHERS & ALLIEN – NEW YORK (c.1856 – 1876) and are sporting their original crimson Newport Artillery muffins with the telltale bullion NA designation and with the massive silver bullion eagles of a full bird Colonel. All in nice condition yet with desirable evidence of natural age, period use and originality, these historic uniform epaulets were those of the Civil War era commanding officer of one of the most prestigious of American militia companies dating from pre American Revolution days. Chartered in 1741 by King George II of Britain the Newport Artillery Company served in wars from the French and Indian War to the Spanish American War and is still active as a reenactment group. Their armory in Newport Rhode Island, now a museum, is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Easily dated by the deeply set style and content of maker marks as well as construction and material, this set would have been those of one of three Civil War era Newport Artillery commanders or, as was a common practice among New England Militia commanders, passed on to adorn the dress uniform of each of the Newport Artillery Colonels it turn. They were: 1860-1862 Geo. Washington Tew, (also served - Bvt. Brig. Gen. 5th RI Heavy); 1862-1865 William Augustus Stedman (also served - 1st Lt. 1st RI Vol. Inf.) and 1865-1877 John Hare Powell (also served - Lt. Col. 9th RI Vol. Inf.) As indicated here by the varied military service provided by its Civil War era commanders, the Newport Artillery saw only early service with its constituents serving later efforts in the various state regiments. When in 1861 President Lincoln raised the call for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion, the Newport Artillery increased its strength to one hundred and left immediately for Providence to enlist as Co F, the flag company, of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia. When the Rhode Island Regiment's 90 day enlistment had expired, they refused mustering out to participate in the 1st Battle of Bull Run. Four of the Company's men were killed in the battle.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.


Manufacturer: Horstman Brothers & Allien, NY  

Barclay & Bontgen U.S. Pat. 1849 - ICE SKATES A rare pair of early U. S. manufactured Alexander Barclay & Ch. W. Bontgen Pat. 1849 ice skates. All original and nicely manufacturer marked,C. W. Bontgen, Newark, Jew Jersey with patent holder marks and date 1894, these wonderful early skates show good evidence of period use and yet remain in pleasing condition with nice markings, no breaks or repairs and a good amount of the original old black enamel on the castings. These are the earliest iron mounted ice skates manufactured in the United States. A rare opportunity for the earlier 19th century through American Civil War era collector, these skates will make a wonderful addition to seasonal decoration. 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.


Manufacturer: Alexander Barclay & Ch. W. Bontgen  

antique silver BOATSWAIN’S PIPE This classic navy boatswain’s pipe is fashioned from sterling silver with style and construction indicative of the mid to later 1800s. Uncleaned with its natural age tarnish as found after decades of storage, this antique boatswain’s pipe offers good evidence of age and period use yet remains solid and in pleasing condition. Of particular interest upon close inspection is a period scratch engraved identification barely visible under the old silver tarnish patina. E. T. LEE in block letters may shed more specific light on the pipes past history. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!
Manufacturer: American antique