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5943
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Civil War vintage 6th ARMY CORPS DEVICE
This 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac device is approximately 1 5/8 inches square and is constructed in the style referred to in the period as extra rich with heavy bullion surmounted over its’ crimson velvet center of the 1st Division. The piece came to us years ago from the personal collection of Dr. Francis Lord who authored the old standard Lord’s Civil War Collector’s Encyclopedia. The badge has a classic cotton gauze backing and as you can see remains in fine condition. 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6075
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second quarter of the 19th century Pewter Camphene Lamp
Remaining in especially nice condition save a small bend or ding at the rim of the base (see photo), this pewter lamp would have been used from about 1837 when camphene was first introduced as lighting fuel until the early 1860s when use of camphene fell away in favor of kerosene. Sporting the telltale elongated, tapered brass burner tubes especially designed to handle the volatile camphene fuel (made from distilled turpentine) this lamp stands approximately 3 3/8 inches from base to mouth, not counting the 1 1/4 inch burner tubes and is 4 5/16 inches in diameter at its base. With no dents or scars save the afore mentioned bend at the rim, this is a nice second quarter of the 19th century camphene lamp. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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5764
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extra nice! Antique - Civil War era IVORY POCKET CALENDAR NOTE BOOK
A bit larger than the usual example, this all original antique note book / calendar measures 3 ½ X 1 ¾ inches and remains in excellent original condition yet with good evidence of age originality and period use. A classic with a nice soft natural age patina unpolished nickel silver clasp, pivot pin and patriotic shield escutcheon. These are becoming difficult to acquire in nice original condition. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6032
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sailor / sail maker – folk art decorated SEAM RUBBER
Measuring approximately 6 5/8 inches from tip to tip, this attractively decorated and highly collectable tool was carved from rock maple in a form well recognized by collectors as a specialized tool called a seam rubber designed to flatten the hand sewn lapped seams of heavy sail fabric. This early example offers hand carved and sail needle inscribed decorative nautical embellishments in the form of cod fish, ships anchor, stars and a heart shaped patriotic shield. All as found with good age and originality yet in pleasing condition with good evidence of period use. A nice item for the antique folk-art and nautical 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6053
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scarce! Colt New Model 1861 Navy – RICHARD / MASON Cartridge Conversion
An eye appealing example of Colt's earliest cartridge pistol design, the Richards / Mason Conversion of the .38 caliber 1861 New Mod. Navy was there effort to enter the breach loading cartridge market while utilizing a huge over stock of left over Civil War percussion parts both from overflowing assembly bins at the factory and from completed and used percussion revolvers that had been returned to Colt for the cartridge modification. Necessary new components, primarily the Richards patent recoil shield, loading gate, cylinder and hammer firing spur along with the Mason patent ejection rod and housing were manufactured by Colt to complete the conversion. Conversion numbers, in this example matching the last four digits of the original percussion frame serial number (32533), were applied to the cartridge loading gate and new unrebated cylinder. This example appears to have left Colt in the whiteand was clearly re-issued with new factory grips mounted on the old well used percussion frame. (A desirable example of a Civil War vintage manufactured and used conversion base, serial number 32533 of the New Model 1861 Navy percussion revolver was manufactured in 1863.) Remaining in excellent condition, the barrel length of this example appears to have been shortened in the period to 5 ½ inches with the application of a bead front sight. This desirable example of the seldom found Colt offers matching numbers and marked -PAT. JULY 25, 1871- -PAT. JULY 2, 1872- on the frame with -ADDRESS COLONEL SAML COLT NEW-YORK AMERICA- on the barrel. With a number of minor production variations, limited records and the scarcity of existing examples to study, per Norm Flayderman’s guide total manufacture of this model conversion was limited to approximately 2200, these arms have been a bit of a challenge to collectors in so far as variation specifics. Excellent references are: James Serven’s Colt Cartridge Pistols (pub. 1952); Colt Firearms- 1836 – 1954 by the same author, (pub. 1954) and E. Dixon Larson’s Colt Tips (pub. 1972) As always Norm Flayderman’s Guide to American Antique Firearms offers good general information while variation specifics will require the earlier references. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
A note about firearms: WE EMPHASIZE HERE THAT THIS PIECE IS CONSIDERED AN ANTIQUE / COLLECTABLE. IT IS OFFERED AS A HISTORICAL COLLECTABLE ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FIREABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WILL CONSTITUTE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE.
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6001
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Civil War era hard rubber MATCH CASE
This attractive little match case offers good evidence of age and originality as it’s outer surfaces offer that rich chocolate age patina that comes to the early hard rubber, only with the decades. Popular among Civil War era personal item and smalls collectors, these early hard rubber pocket match cases are tough to find in any condition these days and this one remains in excellent condition with no cracks as is nearly always the case particularly to the slip on cover. . 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6058
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1864 LETTER – Christian Commission Thank You from a 3rd U. S. Cavalry Bugler
A nice personal item, this crisply penned and easily read three and a quarter page letter on 5 X 8 inch per page, U. S. Christian Commission stationary. Writing from camp in Huntsville, Alabama on February 19, 1864 trooper Henry Snell, Co. B Bugler, 3rd United States Cavalry is winding down his nearly three year hitch with the 3rd Cav. as he writes a Thank You to a lady who has donated That little bag which I received in the Sanitary today from you. Henry advises that they have a very fine Sanitary which he visits daily, further that they had a meeting as yesterday was Sunday and a pleasant Sunday it was. A great many Soldiers attended but very few citizens as they are pretty nearly all sesesh. Snell comments further that he should not think their Secessionism should prevent them from attending church. He comments that his Regiment is preparing for muster out however there are a great many soldiers in and around Huntsville. which belong to General Sherman. He continues to advise that if he were to write of all of the Hardships we ben through ---------- it would take me a month to write it. He writes that he has a memorandum book listing all of the battles he has been in his nearly three years of service and that he will copy and send it off. He closes by once more sending my sincere thanks a thousand times or more for the little bag you sent to our Sanitary for good and faithful Union Soldiers. Post signature, Henry asks his benefactor to write and offers his full address on the top quarter of the back page. Our quick research offered additional insight regarding Henry Snell (a. k. a. Henry A. Snell in some post war pension records) as we found that he enlisted on 7/25/1861 at age 18, as a Musician in Co. A 7th Illinois Infantry; transferred 8/20/1861, as 3rd class Musician 36th Illinois Band ; then, (date is not given but likely 1861 early 1862) he shows up as a Private Co. B 3rd US Cavalry where he seems to settle in serving nearly three years. Identified as a bugler in his letter and in muster and pension records, we’d guess that Snell continued to serve as a band musician or bugler as on December 14, 1863 he enlisted in the 62nd U. D. Colored Troops with subsequent service in the 64th U. S. C. T. and finally the 65th U. S. Colored Troops
A nice Civil War letter that will appeal to collectors of Sanitary Commission, band, Cavalry, bugler and U. S. Colored Troop material! . 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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5837
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Mjr. General George B. McClellan - 1864 U. S. Presidential Ticket
Typically hand cut, measuring approximately 6 ½ inches X 3 inches, this original 1864 Presidential Election ticket is for then Abraham Lincoln political rival, Gen. George B. McClellan. The piece remains in pleasing condition and will make a nice companion piece with Lincoln material or Civil War memorabilia. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!
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6055
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classic tin – DINNER PAIL
A bit late for our usual fare but representative of our affinity for surviving utilitarian items of gone bye everyday life, this neat old worker’s dinner bucket remains untouched, as found and apparently unused. Not a big deal unless you appreciate such things, this old time dinner pail is complete and original even to its tin cup on the lid. It stands just under 10 inches base to the top of its cup and is about 7 inches in diameter. Retaining an original bright shiny tinned finish on internal surfaces, the outer portions offer that desirable natural age patina that comes to tin with decades of natural exposure. Now an attractive Americana collectable these sturdy dinner pails were used by , miners, factory workers, dock hands, and other laborers from the mid-19th century to hold hard-boiled eggs, vegetables, meat, pie, and other hardy fare until 1904 when the advent of the thermos vacuumed bottle brought about a change in design of the common lunch-box still popular today. A nice old piece of Americana on the fringe of our usual time period but scarce in this condition and worthy of appreciation. . 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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6059
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Civil War vintage import Muzzle Loading Percussion Shotgun
This pleasing vintage double barrel percussion shotgun will be most appreciated by Civil War collector / historians with particular interest in the number of arms purchased across Europe by Confederate States buyers. We will begin by recommending the newly published and ground breaking Confederate & Southern Agent Marked Shotguns by Russ A. Pritchard & John W. Ashworth as offering insight with respect to this piece and a must have in the library of serious enthusiasts of Confederate used arms, particularly with respect to the wide use of muzzle loading percussion shotguns, import and domestic. This particular arm remains in pleasing as found condition just as it was set aside decades ago. With good evidence of age and period use, yet with no diminishing issues. Exposing the barrels underside offers a myriad of Liege markings common to Civil War vintage shotguns. Liege proof marks, E over LG over * in an oval, a small crown over N, a script EL and the telltale match marks frequently referred to by Confederate collectors as Roman-numerals are present as seen on the Confederate South Agent identified shotgun illustrated on pages 194 & 195 of the above reference. The back of the back-action locks are unmarked save the earlier mentioned typical chiseled match marks on the lock plate edges. Of significance is the fact that this example, while having the typical script floral engraving, is completely devoid of the usual engraved maker identification as is found on commercially imported sporting shotguns of the era. Examples of Confederate provenanced, un-maker marked Liege shotguns may be found on pages 37, 54 and 56 of Confederate & Southern Agent Marked Shotguns . Whether the maker name was left off to avoid a connection between the supplier and war time Southern States arms trade, or if left off simply to provide space for sales agent engraved identification, will be left to speculation. This example measures approximately 48 5/8 inches in total length with patched .69 caliber bore, 33 inch Damascus barrels. A frequent arm of the Confederate Infantry, with shortened and full length examples commonly associated with Confederate Cavalry, the percussion muzzle loading shotgun saw considerable use both early on and through the duration of the Civil War. Overlooked by all but a few collectors for years the vast majority of surviving war time examples have gone the way of time. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
A note about firearms: WE EMPHASIZE HERE THAT THIS PIECE IS CONSIDERED AN ANTIQUE / COLLECTABLE. IT IS OFFERED AS A HISTORICAL COLLECTABLE ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FIREABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WILL CONSTITUTE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE.
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5660
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Civil War era Pat. 1861 - 1864 DESK PEN & INK STAND
A nice all original Patent June 4, 1861 / Nov. 5, 1864 desk pen stand and inkwell. The spun brass base measures approximately 5 inches in diameter and is fitted with a pen stand of cast iron. A glass ink reservoir is set in with a patent dated hinged pewter top. All in nice original condition with natural age, uncleaned and with evidence of period use while remaining in nice original condition. A neat piece for the Civil War personal item and antique writing instrument 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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6033
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original ! Maine Adjutant General – CIVIL WAR ROSTER
Published in wraps in 1867 by the Maine Adjutant General, this approximately 1210 page volume is titled Supplement to the Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the Years 1861-1866 and offers an alphabetical index with Name, Rank, Company and Regiment of each of the tens of thousands of Mainers who served in the Civil War. (A number said to be more per capita than any other state in the Union.) The volume measures approximately 8 7/8 X 5 1/2 X 2 7/8 inches thick. The book shows good evidence of age and period use while remaining in pleasing condition, complete with no repairs, loose, folded or torn pages. A must have for the Maine in the Civil War enthusiast even in this day of internet, DVD and other wonderful resources. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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6089
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c.1851 Bohn printing: Suppressed Works of James Gillray - a Complete 45 print Folio
A bit of a departure from our usual fare but we acquired an original 1851 printing of The Works of James Gillray from the Original (Suppressed) Plates and have decided to move the volume along. As this is a specialty item well outside of our area of the business we would be just as happy to pass it along to a knowledgeable dealer or collector at a trade price. This offering is an original 1851 publication by H. G. Bohn as described below. While the binding is tight the folio covers are separated showing expected age and use with bumped corners. (A properly done half binding would easily restore the covers to the spine.) The bound plates remain in pleasing condition and will be best described by our photo illustrations.
James Gillray, sometimes spelled Gilray (1756 or 1757-1815), was a British caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires. As a bit of history behind these outstanding 18th century satirical drawings : After the death of the artist the business was carried on by his widow until she retired and offered Giliray’s plates at auction. When the plates failed to meet reserve they remained unsold and in storage until the widow’s death. When the executors offered Gillray’s plates for the price of the copper, an enterprising publisher by the name of H. G. Bohn purchased the plates publishing two volumes the last of which was published in 1851 consisting of so calledsuppressedplates under the title The Works of James Gillray from the Original Plates. Twenty- five pages plus the title page are printed on one side of 63.5 cm x 48.3 cm heavy woven paper all bound in an elephant folio. As Gsllray’s suppressed caricatures feature sexual, satirical and politically outrageous subject matter, it was advised that the collection of suppressed plates were intended for gentlemen only and not for the delicate sensibilities of the female population.
Entertaining, easily matted and framed, and collectible, complete works such as are offered here are seldom found as the vast majority of the folios were broken up for individual sale. It should be noted that while the regular Gillray prints from the Bohn printing seem to sell for between $25. and $35. each the suppressed prints as are offered here go much higher averaging $200. each.
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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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5905
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Civil War vintage PEWTER WHISTLE
Illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison, this neat little period pewter whistle remains in pleasing condition with good evidence of pewter casting methods of the period with natural age patina that comes to this material with time. Difficult to find nowadays, Civil War site digger/historians have well documented examples of the period style and material. Will lay in well in any period personal grouping. (see: Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields & Campsites of the Civil War by Phillips) 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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6006
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nice antique ARTISANS DRILL
All original and even usable this little artisans drill remains in pleasing condition even retaining most of its original black enamel paint finish and pleasing decoration. Will go well with early hand craft tools, period gunsmith, or even jeweler things. Nice to look at and difficult to find in this condition. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!
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