Rare! Pat. 1864 J. L. HARLEM – POCKET TIN A classic personal item of the Civil War soldier, these little antique oval tin boxes with the hinged cover were a popular item for the safekeeping of every sort of personal treasure. Most commonly seen in the Parker’s Pat. 1861 variety this is the seldom seen J. L. Harlem Patent 1864 example. Remaining in excellent original condition measuring 3 1/8 X 2 1/6 inches with nice patent date and maker markings, this example will be especially appealing to the period tin collector. A nice item appropriate to the display of tobacco, stamps or sewing items and such as were commonly carried by the Civil War soldier. With the period embellishment attachment of a Cavalry shell jacket size button, we have left this treasure un-cleaned and as found to protect the integrity of its originality. All solid and functioning the tin will clean to excellent with proper care but we would leave it as is. 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: J. L. Harlem  

Civil War era Telescoping PEWTER CUP A nice Civil War vintage antique telescoping pewter cup, all original and in excellent condition. Un-polished and as found, the pewter displays a wonderful original luster. Though somewhat fragile, these soft pewter traveling cups were a popular item in the soldier’s collection of traveling personal items. A neat display item with period examples getting hard to acquire in this condition. 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: American Antique  

outstanding early Civil War era Militia FORAGE CAP & AMBROTYPE This outstanding butternut wool forage cap comes with a wonderful 6th plate ambrotype of an original wearer of the classic just pre and early Civil War vintage enlisted grade forage cap. The condition of both the image and headgear is exceptional and is guaranteed to please the new owner. for what it's worth, upon quick reference to our research library we found no fewer than five references to Massachusetts Militia units (the cap has Mass. buttons) where the use of CG would have been appropriate. They were Cambridge City Guard - Charlestown City Guards - Clark Light Guard and Clinton Light Guard. Upon outbreak of the Civil war these militia units became part of the following volunteer units respectively Co. A 16th MVM - Co. C 3rd MVM - Co. K 5th MVM - Co. C 11th MVM - Co. C 15th MVM and Co. A 8th Mass Volunteer Militia. While additional research may be more conclusive as to which Mass. unit utilized this hat, it seem likely from what limited uniform description we have found, that our subject is most probably the Cambridge City Guard which served in the Civil War as Co. A 16th Mass. Volunteer Infantry. (It seems the other noted units tended toward blues and grays in uniform coloration rather than the soft brown or butter-nut of the subject forage cap. An example of the c. 1840-1850 era eagle motif American Militia shoulder belt plate use by the subject may bee seen as Plate 730 in O'Donnell & Campbell -American Military Belt Plates. (see: PERSONNEL of the CIVIL WAR by Wm. Amann; see also: AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPAGE by Todd ) 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! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.



Manufacturer: American antique  

Mid 1800’s Nursing BOTTLE & BOX All in excellent condition is this antique special purpose bottle with its M. S. BURR & Co. BOSTON nomenclature embossed around an eye catching 11/2 inch American Eagle seal. With the bottle is its stopper fitting for a rubber tube a feeding tip and a cleaning brush. All are original to a nicely labeled pasteboard box with an attractive American eagle graphic. The label offers directions for use and patent dates from 1859 through 1872. The box measure approximately 5 ½ x 4 x 2 ¾ inches high and is a scarce and desirable addition (this is the only example we have seen in our 40 years of paying attention and seeking out such things,) but it deserves a proper restoration where the folds have been reinforced with a modern flat Scotch type tape. (Easily removable without damage by a knowledgeable person .) Though primarily promoted by maker and patent holder M. S. Burr & Co. (see Civil War era Boston Directories) as an infant feeder, their especially designed bottle would surely see use in the period to aid the feeding of bedridden and invalid medical patients. A scarce specialty item seldom if ever found in the original box. 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: M. S. Burr & Co. Boston  

PRINT BLOCK - Veteran Medal of Cuba War, 1898-1902 Not a big deal but a nice little collectable without spending a lot of money is this neat little copper faced wood and type lead print block. The medal design with its American eagle Cuba veteran device will be familiar to the collector of Spanish American War items. Illustrated here with a U. S. quarter for size comparison, this nice old print block remains in excellent condition and will make a nice companion piece to lay in with other Span. Am. War collectables. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!
Manufacturer: American Antique  

Important ! 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 used 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 to be on authenticity, quality and client satisfaction.



 

U. S. S. Lackawanna SAILOR CDV A nice item for the U. S. Navy enthusiast or Western Americana collector, this photograph offers the image of an enlisted seaman identified on the back as George Brown, Olympia, Washington Territory. The band on his hat clearly identifies his ship as the U. S. S. Lackawanna. The photograph is back marked by early San Francisco photographer Thomas A Brown at his 606 Kearny Street address. A nice image ! ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


 

half-plate DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAIT This outstanding half plate daguerreotype (4.25 X 5.5 inches) portrait will speak best for itself except to advise the viewer that the back of the glass (not the dag) was cleaned and the image resealed about a year ago. When held in the light just so one can see a hairline scratch that runs diagonally across the lower quarter of the image (see illustration). The scratch is otherwise nearly invisible and the plate is otherwise in excellent condition. We have taken pains to illustrate the original untouched and unenhanced even to an angle that will show the scratch. Be assured that what you see is what you will see in hand. A wonderful portrait worthy of any collection priced reasonably. 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.


 

American Flag / FOLK-ART WATERCOLORS This neat little 4.5 X 6 inch handmade, ribbon bound booklet, contains colorful folk-art watercolors of six of our colonial and early American flag variation. A bit crude but colorful with lots of eye appeal. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.


 

HAND MADE VINTAGE CLOTHES PINS A neat pair of vintage clothes pins hand cut from a young sapling or tree branch (illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison) and bound with a strip of tinned iron to form what must have been a very effective clothes pin. We have seen this style in years past usually found among vintage household and camp things but like most neat utility items of the period they seem to have vanished. We think they would go well with other period country kitchen items or in any grouping of Civil War vintage personal things. please note: ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!!. If you are new to our catalog and wish additional information or just to learn who we are, please check out our home page. Thanks for visiting our catalog!!
 

c. 1865 LINCOLN CDV This is the classic $5.00 bill view of Abraham Lincoln first published in 1865 to satisfy the public clamor for nearly anything in memoriam to the martyred president. This example in popular CDV format of the time, remains in nice original condition. Once fairly common on the collectors market reflecting period popularity of the type with the presence of an example in nearly every family photo album, surviving examples in good untrimmed condition are becoming quite scarce. Though unidentified as to photographer this period Lincoln image will make a nice all original item without spending a lot of money.


Manufacturer: American antique  

Civil War vintage JEWS HARP Period, all original and in excellent condition is this staple of the Civil War campfire. Lots of eye appeal and a desirable pocket size ( Illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison). This example remains in excellent condition with clear evidence of period construction and a rich age patina. please note: ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!!.
Manufacturer: American Antique  

Confederate Hospital & Dispensary site - S.C. APOTHECARY BOTTLE This earlier to mid 1800’s aqua bottle stands approximately 9 inches high and remains in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or repairs. On its’ face is the period label of G. W. AIMAR/CHARLESTOWN, S. C. identifying the bottle’s content as ‘OXALIC ACID’. Used in solution for cauterization to stop bleeding, this strong oxidant had many applications applicable to the Civil War era hospital ward to include a 6% solution in sugar syrup as an insecticide. Of special note is the fact that during the Civil War George W. Aimar’s apothecary housed was the Confederate dispensary in Charleston and on the second floor, provided space for a hospital. Like so many others of all walks of life, Druggist G. W. Aimar stepped forward in a military way serving as senior 2nd Lieutenant, Kanapaux's Battery, Lafayette's Artillery, South Carolina Volunteers. An desirable medical item especially in consideration of the largedispensary size of the bottle and Aimar’s close association with the Confederate dispensary and hospital in Charlestown. 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 officer DEAD LETTER OFFICE - CDV Experienced collectors of Civil War photography, will be familiar with so called ‘Dead Letter Office’ soldier images. A greater number of more casual Civil War enthusiasts who are familiar with the work of Ken Burns will remember his attention to the long lost images dutifully posted by the U. S. Postal, Dead Letter Office (see: THE CIVIL WAR pages 44 & 45 as published from the P.B.S. series by Burns). Swept up by the patriotic flurry of war, the U.S. Postal Department extended a special effort as workers in the Dead Letter Office poured over bundles of undeliverable mail. Envelopes from the front carried messages of love, longing and in some instances, where circumstances and finances would permit, an image of the sender. The high esteem of such photos is documented by the effort of the Dead Letter Office as recovered images were carefully numbered in a distinctive red ink and pierced by brass clips to large pasteboard cards for display in the Post Office for hopeful recovery. This CDV is a remnant of that Dead Letter Office effort and bears the distinctive red ink numeral and piercing by brass mounting clips that is so distinctive of these relics.


 

beef bone Folk Art KNIFE This nicely done beef bone knife will make a nice companion piece with any Civil War era collection of personal items. Nicely handmade and maintained, the piece offers good evidence of age and originality with hand tool marks and a pleasing natural patina. A popular hand craft of the Civil War, the making of such from readily available beef bone offered many an hour of winter camp recreation with a resulting product to trade or to send to loved ones at home. A common pastime of soldiers of both Union or Confederate persuasion. (Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison. )


Manufacturer: handcrafted American antique