state issue Model 1860 CAVALRY SABER Offered here uncleaned and untouched just as it was set aside in a Maine farm house sometime after the Civil War, is this nice old Mod. 1860 Civil War issue cavalry saber. If it is the authenticity and charm of a carried saber that you desire, this one will fit the bill. With no maker nor government inspector marking this well used but pleasing condition saber is clearly a state issue piece. As such it is a rather scarce example as the majority of Maine cavalry seemed to carry the earlier and heavier Mod. 1840 wrist breaker though identified period photographs have offered proof that the Mod. 1860 was indeed carried by troops of both the 1st and 2nd Maine Cavalry. This example shows good evidence of period use and carrying with the usual dents and dings of field use on the scabbard and guard with its original wire wrap over well worn but solid grip leather. The blade is in excellent original condition, full length with no chips or dings in its edge. The scabbard is minus its throat insert and retains a coarse coat of period tar based paint. Both conditions are original to the period and familiar to us as long time Maine Civil War collectors. Theories as to the purpose of removing the insert tend to center on ease of draw from the scabbard and opinions on application of the flat tar based paint run from protection from rain to toning down the glint of shiny scabbards in the sun and moonlight. At any rate we would recommend leaving all as is thus preserving the hard to find as carried Maine cavalry saber. 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: antique  

Silver Mounted / Decorated - Antique DRINKING GOURD A bit of a departure for us but too neat to pass up was this attractive hand decorated and silver mounted antique drinking gourd. Standing approximately 3 ¼ inches high and about the diameter of a baseball, this all original decorated drinking gourd dates in the earlier to mid nineteenth century. Deassed from a small maritime museum (see inventory # on bottom) where it had been displayed as an example of early 1800s sailor art from passage around the horn, this piece is actually of South American origin, more specifically Argentina. Our research has told us that the hand carved and paint embellished design on the body of the gourd is from the seal of Argentina’s Constitutional Assembly of 1813. (see illustration) All original and in nice condition with no cracks of flaws this piece offers wonderful rich age patina. 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: Antique handcraft  

Victorian art - AMBROTYPE Our photo illustrations will do best to describe this attractive 9th plate ambrotype except to advise that the condition with sharp focus and contrast just as you see it here and that the matted and framed image retains its original printed backing of Heywood’s Photograph and Ambrotype Gallery on Washington Street in Boston. (see: John B. Heywood photographer working in Boston ca.1856-186. Examples of his photographs are maintained in the New York Public Library and the Massachusetts Historical Society collections.) A touching Victorian image. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


Manufacturer: Heywood’s Photograph and Ambrotype Gallery - Boston  

scarce early issue Civil War vet’s G. A. R. MEMBERSHIP MEDAL We will let our illustrations speak for this hard to find early Grand Army of the Republic membership medal except to advise that it was picked out of Maine and is completely original to the period down to it’s early Medal of Honor style fastener, complete with good traces of period gold wash, original ribbon and early configuration star suspension. All original with lots of character and eye appeal, this MOH style G. A. R. medal is a tough one to find on today’s market. 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: American antique  

early hand turned MAPLE DRUMSTICKS Each measuring approximately 15 3/8 inches in length and about 9/16 in diameter at the widest point with a period characteristic straight taper to the acorn shaped tip, these antique rock maple drumsticks remain in excellent untouched original condition. The classic straight taper and hand cut butt ends will make this set fit in nicely with any Civil War and earlier grouping and will go especially well with any smaller period drum. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.
Manufacturer: hand turned Antique  

Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain - HOME G. A. R. POST FLAG An all original circa 1889 (42 star) memorial stick flag from the home Grand Army of the Republic, Civil War veteran’s Post of Major. General Joshua L. Chamberlain. The Mountfort G. A. R. Post # 22 was located near the Gettysburg hero and Medal of Honor winner’s home in Brunswick, Maine. This vintage flag measures approximately 12 X 22 inches and offers lots of eye appeal with its bright printed coloration on nicely patinaed old cotton gauze material. A couple of small holes with accompanying age staining only add to the charm of this nice old piece of Americana. A perfect size for framing and display, this memorial flag will be of special interest to enthusiasts of the old 20th Maine Infantry Colonel, G. A. R. or American flag collector.
Manufacturer: American antique  

Newspaper Man & Author- William Wirt Sikes / Civil War era Photographs Offered here as a group to keep them together are four original photographs of noted Civil War era newspaper man and author W. Wirt Sikes. Found in the period CDV / tintype album of a well to do Watertown, New York family, (Elizabeth Townsend Porter Beach wife of John C Beach) the two carte de viste images are ink identified on the back with family pencil notations. The tintypes are period pencil identified on the album page. All are in excellent condition with sharp focus and strong contras. A nice grouping for the Civil War era newspaper enthusiast and American literature collector, Watertown born W. Wirt Sikes started his literary career in 1856 as a typesetter and contributor for the Utica Morning Herald. At the outbreak of the Civil War we find Sikes in a prestigious position appointed as State Canal Inspector of Illinois. Two years later Wirt Sikes was back again in newspaper work on the Chicago Evening Journal and by 1865 he had removed to New York where he was a contributor to several of the popular periodicals of the day to include Harpers New Monthly Magazine, the Youth's Companion, Oliver Optic's Magazine, and the New York Sun. He became part owner and editor of the Nyack City & Country and the Rockland County Journal while at the same time writing for other periodicals such as the Toledo Weekly Blade and more. He was appointed U.S. consul at Cardiff, Wales, in June, 1876, and published much on the archaeology and history of that region. By the time of his death in 1883 the prolific William Wirt Sikes was said to have used over twenty pen names. A rare opportunity for the America literary enthusiast to acquire personal unpublished photographs of one of the Civil War eras most prolific American writers.



 

c. 1870 antique miniature book - PUNCH COMIC BIJOU This desirable miniature antique comic book dates to approximately1870, quite possibly a little earlier, and is titled Bijou Comic Album. Published by Rock Brothers & Payne of London, this miniature volume measures approximately 1 X 1.25 with 26 wood-engraved comic illustrations with captions. Bound in fine green morocco leather, gilt-stamped with oak leaves, this desirable collectable remains in nice original condition. (Illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison.) 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: Rock Brothers & Payne of London  

Patent 1877 FINGER LAMP Offered here uncleaned and in nice condition with a soft natural age patina just as it was relegated to attic trunk storage decades ago, is this eye appealing little spun brass finger lamp. The wick adjustment wheel is nicely marked PAT-FEBY- 27- 1877. (Illustrated here with a U. S. quarter for size comparison.) A nice little item for the lighting collector. 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  

patriotic gutta-percha PHOTOGRAPHY CASE with AMBROTYPE An end of the day 9th plate gutta-percha (thermoplastic) photo case byLittlefield, Parsons & Co. / Union Cases / Pat. 1856 -1857. The case sports a scarce Constitution and the Laws patriotic front cover with a floral, bird pattern back cover. The case retains its original label with tight hinges and remains in excellent condition save a single chipped corner on the back cover. The case retains its original sealed ambrotype of a nicely posed pair of well dressed gentlemen. 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: Littlefield, Parsons & Co.  

GETTYSBURG - the movie on VCR Little need be said about this landmark Civil War film except to advise that this two volume set is complete and in nice condition. From our own library as like so many historian / collectors we continue to make room and upgrade to DVD format. A good opportunity to acquire an inexpensive copy of this classic for the old summer cottage or spare room VCR, this Turner film is credited with placing the 20th Maine commander Joshua L. Chamberlain, played by Jeff Daniels, squarely in the modern public eye as a true American hero. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!
Manufacturer: Turner film  

April 4, 1865 - New York Tribune – Fall of RICHMOND & PETERSBURG All original, complete and in pleasing condition is this April 4,1865 issue of the New York Tribune. Featuring unusually striking graphics in the form of a nearly half page, above the fold American eagle on shield and large detailed map of THE FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA on the front page, a full page map of RICHMOND & THIRTY MILES AROUND IT. Bold headlines declare, VIRGINIA ! / RICHMOND & PETERSBURG TAKEN! / Colored Troops the First to Enter the Slaveholders’ Capital ! / THE REBELS LEAVE IN HASTE / Gen. Grant Attempting to Cut Off Lee’s Escape Filled with contemporary war news from all fronts, this historic newspaper will also offer a wonderful visual backdrop laid in with any quality Civil War grouping. A full column of recent CASUALTIES offers the name, company, regiment and nature of wounding of hundreds of troops. The list leads off with a dozen or more troops of the 20th Maine with many more of the hardest fought Union regiments listed. In the typical format of the period with 8 16 X 21 inch pages each being the front and back of a large single sheet divided and folded in quarters, this complete issue of the Trib remains solid with no major tears and no repairs. Some minor staining and good evidence of age and period handling will only add to eye appeal. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


Manufacturer: New York Tribune  

Civil War CDV – US Volunteer Paymaster Mjr. William V. Porter This nice period vignette photograph is in CVD format with strong contrast and sharp focus. Acquired in a period family album, this photo is by Wendworth & Taylor of Philadelphia and bears a family identification as Uncle Will – Major William Porter. Our research shows that our Uncle Will was William Vredenbrgh Porter who was commissioned in February 23, 1864 as Major U. S. Volunteer Paymaster’s Department. He mustered out after the close of the Civil War on November 1, 1865.


Manufacturer: Wendworth & Taylor of Philadelphia  

Revolutionary War era BILL HOOK FASCINE KNIFE A classic utility of the 18th century military engineer in his construction of breastworks and fortifications, this all original fascine (pronounced faseen) knife measuring just over 15 ¾ inches in total length with a heavy hand-forged iron blade. The leather washer grip with rat-tail tang remain intact and solid with period field use wear. A classily shaped blade presents the telltale carbon pocking characteristic of 18th century hand forge and an attractive rich patina with no chips or dings in the edge leave the impression the massive knife remains just as it was used in the time of the American Revolution. Note: The heavy Bill-hook fascine knife was used to clear camp sites of saplings and construct fortifications from the freshly cut foliage. The green saplings were bundled and bound firmly together in five to twelve foot lengths, trimmed square at the ends and called fascines. These fascines were used with large woven tubes also fashioned from saplings and filled with earth to form breastworks for fortification. (see: Valley Forge American Revolutionary War Museum collection.) 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 American antique  

Women’s Overseas Service League - Gettysburg Address Narrative Charles Scribner & Sons, New York, 1918 hard bound publication of The Perfect Tribute by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews. Considered this author’s best work about Abraham Lincoln, this little forty-seven page book recounts the morning of November 18, 1863, when a special train drew out from Washington, carrying a most distinguished group of dignitaries. In addition to the U. S. Marine Band from the Navy Yard there were judges of the U. S. Supreme Court, governmental department heads, the general-in-chief of the army and his staff and members of the president’s cabinet. Oddly enough the most prominent personage in the group would have seemed out of place to one who would not recognize the towering awkward figure with the sad drawn face of Abraham Lincoln. The party was traveling to Gettysburg to consecrate the new national cemetery there. The authors narrative of the historic occasion is stirring in its simplicity and brevity while offering the reader a special insight not provided in the many other written accounts. Of interest to World War One and women’s history enthusiast will be that this volume bears the markings of the Women’s Overseas Service League library in Paris, France. The Women’s Overseas Service League was formed in the World War 1 era by and for women who served overseas with the Armed Forces. Library marked with natural age and minimal period wear, this offering remains tight and in pleasing condition with no tears, repairs or other condition issues.


Manufacturer: Charles Scribner & Sons, New York