Page 48 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles June 2019
P. 48
by John Sexton
I don’t know much about this button, but everyone is saying it’s a really rare cavalry manuscript “C” in nice condition, but I did find a couple of poor examples
Q:
button. I just found it here in South Carolina. I can’t find any for sale online, and that still sold for $250-$300 several years ago. I contacted three top dealers in
info would be appreciated. excavated buttons; two believed your button
might bring between $600-$800 at the high end
Your friends were right, that is a very scarce button. The button market is and $500-$600 at the low end. However, Bill
JS:
quite soft now, however. At the peak of the market, a perfect non-excavated Henderson of the Picket Post Antiques in
Confederate Halfmann & Taylor blockade-run manuscript “C” cavalry button Fredericksburg, Virginia, has a top end
would’ve sold for over $2,000. Even though an excavated example is much Confederate button online catalog that stated due
scarcer, it will generally bring less money. to the great rarity of this button in excavated
A non-excavated example with good patina and no retained gold plating in condition, it might bring as much as $1,200.
today’s market would be $1,200-$1,500. Your button appears to be in very good A rare Confederate Halfmann & Taylor “C” cavalry
excavated condition with a smooth, brown, non-pitted patina with a straight button, between $500 and $800, but it might even
shank and easily read maker’s mark. I cannot find a recent sale of an excavated bring $1,200
Dear John: In 1972, my wife and I purchased our first home from a very nice Your Confederate sword is a classic example of a model 1850 foot officer’s
Q:
elderly couple. They were moving into a retirement facility and taking very little sword made by Boyle & Gamble of Richmond, Virginia. Though your
with them. They told us we could have everything that was left. After moving in, I photographs showing the blade etching are not great, you can still see an area
climbed up into the attic above the small one-car garage to take a look around. To of brighter metal changing to gray metal (about an inch or so on the ricasso)
my surprise, I found a treasure trove of items, including two sets of old golf clubs, a which is the interface in the blade where more malleable iron was blacksmith-
WWII army pistol belt and holster, and three swords. welded to steel. Collectors often call this interface a “fault,” which is a unique
The swords were in poor condition with rust on two of the blades. The scabbard feature to this and a few other Confederate manufacturers.
for one sword was literally falling apart. Unfortunately, I tried to clean the rust Just like its U.S. counterpart, the sword was regulation for a company-grade
from the swords and worsened their condition. officer, lieutenants or captain. Often, the blades are so poor, etching is not
On one sword, I can make out flowers and crossed cannons sketched on the blade visible at all, and some were not etched. Depending on how discernible and
with “CSA” near the hilt. I’ve been told that the CSA sword is probably a Confederate aesthetically pleasing the blade etch is determines the price since there is no
artillery officer’s sword. Any idea what I have based on the attached photos? historical value added. It was probably just a Union souvenir since it was found
in a New York home with other affects. I can read the “CSA” etched near the
All three of your swords are Civil War Era. The knight’s head cruciform guard ricasso; it is quite clear and tells me that the blade may clean up a little, possibly
JS:
with straight-bladed militia sword was used and made from the showing a name or motto which would add value.
1840s to well after the Civil War, often with fraternal or society The sword appears “as found,” missing most of the leather
markings. Yours with the maker’s mark of Shannon, Miller & grip but retaining the original single copper wire wrap. The
Crane date it to after the war. You will see photographs and images scabbard is in pieces and can be restored (and should be done by
with this identical style sword with militia officers, and even Civil a professional) since you have all three original mounts; they
War militiamen posed with similar examples. A typical price asked appear to be very good with a dark patina. You can find similar
at trade shows for this style of sword is about $100-$150. swords priced at trade shows and auctions in a range of $4,000 to
The Germanic-style horsemen saber is most likely an English $7,000. Value at the higher part of the range depends upon what
variant of a Prussian 1788 Dragoon Saber. Even though the can be seen on the blade and the overall aesthetic as restored.
pattern is German, most examples I see are English-maker It will bring more if a name is found identifying it.
marked. This was a popular heavy cavalry saber of the late 18th
and early 19th centuries. Without a scabbard, in average “as
found” condition, regardless of origin, examples can be found
priced for about $300. However, I have seen two English These three swords were found in an attic after the purchase of a home,
maker-marked examples priced on eBay for $450 and $695; I (l-r) a Boyle & Gamble CSA sword; a Shannon, Miller & Crane post-
don’t know if they sold for those prices. war knight’s head cruciform sword; and a Germanic-style horsemen saber.
I am wondering what a baseline value is for two muskets I found. Trying to value. If these can be identified to the specific site where they were found and
Q:
establish a value on the small collection I have. Thanks for any help. They have to specific engagements, possibly an identification can be made of the unit
been run through electrolysis and sealed. who was in that position. Both appear to be Springfield or Harpers Ferry
model 1855s with the Maynard tape primer doors visible on the lock. It is
Your muskets, no doubt, are relics found in water, as the stocks are still interesting to note that the muzzle still has a tompion (a wooden stopper for
JS:
preserved. You state that they are treated the muzzle), which probably shows the
through electrolysis so they are stable, weapon was being stored.
which is good, as they should no longer I remember about 30 years ago or so, a
rust. The stocks should be stable and hard good quantity of muskets of various sorts
as a rock as they appear treated, too. was found in the James River at City
Relic rifle muskets that still retain their Point, Virginia. Some of those muskets are
stocks are found in the market on Civil still on the market today, and similar ones
War dealer websites and Civil War shows. Two muskets found in water, $400-$500 each are priced at about $400-$500 in similar
The more history they have, the more condition, the same value as yours.
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
46
I don’t know much about this button, but everyone is saying it’s a really rare cavalry manuscript “C” in nice condition, but I did find a couple of poor examples
Q:
button. I just found it here in South Carolina. I can’t find any for sale online, and that still sold for $250-$300 several years ago. I contacted three top dealers in
info would be appreciated. excavated buttons; two believed your button
might bring between $600-$800 at the high end
Your friends were right, that is a very scarce button. The button market is and $500-$600 at the low end. However, Bill
JS:
quite soft now, however. At the peak of the market, a perfect non-excavated Henderson of the Picket Post Antiques in
Confederate Halfmann & Taylor blockade-run manuscript “C” cavalry button Fredericksburg, Virginia, has a top end
would’ve sold for over $2,000. Even though an excavated example is much Confederate button online catalog that stated due
scarcer, it will generally bring less money. to the great rarity of this button in excavated
A non-excavated example with good patina and no retained gold plating in condition, it might bring as much as $1,200.
today’s market would be $1,200-$1,500. Your button appears to be in very good A rare Confederate Halfmann & Taylor “C” cavalry
excavated condition with a smooth, brown, non-pitted patina with a straight button, between $500 and $800, but it might even
shank and easily read maker’s mark. I cannot find a recent sale of an excavated bring $1,200
Dear John: In 1972, my wife and I purchased our first home from a very nice Your Confederate sword is a classic example of a model 1850 foot officer’s
Q:
elderly couple. They were moving into a retirement facility and taking very little sword made by Boyle & Gamble of Richmond, Virginia. Though your
with them. They told us we could have everything that was left. After moving in, I photographs showing the blade etching are not great, you can still see an area
climbed up into the attic above the small one-car garage to take a look around. To of brighter metal changing to gray metal (about an inch or so on the ricasso)
my surprise, I found a treasure trove of items, including two sets of old golf clubs, a which is the interface in the blade where more malleable iron was blacksmith-
WWII army pistol belt and holster, and three swords. welded to steel. Collectors often call this interface a “fault,” which is a unique
The swords were in poor condition with rust on two of the blades. The scabbard feature to this and a few other Confederate manufacturers.
for one sword was literally falling apart. Unfortunately, I tried to clean the rust Just like its U.S. counterpart, the sword was regulation for a company-grade
from the swords and worsened their condition. officer, lieutenants or captain. Often, the blades are so poor, etching is not
On one sword, I can make out flowers and crossed cannons sketched on the blade visible at all, and some were not etched. Depending on how discernible and
with “CSA” near the hilt. I’ve been told that the CSA sword is probably a Confederate aesthetically pleasing the blade etch is determines the price since there is no
artillery officer’s sword. Any idea what I have based on the attached photos? historical value added. It was probably just a Union souvenir since it was found
in a New York home with other affects. I can read the “CSA” etched near the
All three of your swords are Civil War Era. The knight’s head cruciform guard ricasso; it is quite clear and tells me that the blade may clean up a little, possibly
JS:
with straight-bladed militia sword was used and made from the showing a name or motto which would add value.
1840s to well after the Civil War, often with fraternal or society The sword appears “as found,” missing most of the leather
markings. Yours with the maker’s mark of Shannon, Miller & grip but retaining the original single copper wire wrap. The
Crane date it to after the war. You will see photographs and images scabbard is in pieces and can be restored (and should be done by
with this identical style sword with militia officers, and even Civil a professional) since you have all three original mounts; they
War militiamen posed with similar examples. A typical price asked appear to be very good with a dark patina. You can find similar
at trade shows for this style of sword is about $100-$150. swords priced at trade shows and auctions in a range of $4,000 to
The Germanic-style horsemen saber is most likely an English $7,000. Value at the higher part of the range depends upon what
variant of a Prussian 1788 Dragoon Saber. Even though the can be seen on the blade and the overall aesthetic as restored.
pattern is German, most examples I see are English-maker It will bring more if a name is found identifying it.
marked. This was a popular heavy cavalry saber of the late 18th
and early 19th centuries. Without a scabbard, in average “as
found” condition, regardless of origin, examples can be found
priced for about $300. However, I have seen two English These three swords were found in an attic after the purchase of a home,
maker-marked examples priced on eBay for $450 and $695; I (l-r) a Boyle & Gamble CSA sword; a Shannon, Miller & Crane post-
don’t know if they sold for those prices. war knight’s head cruciform sword; and a Germanic-style horsemen saber.
I am wondering what a baseline value is for two muskets I found. Trying to value. If these can be identified to the specific site where they were found and
Q:
establish a value on the small collection I have. Thanks for any help. They have to specific engagements, possibly an identification can be made of the unit
been run through electrolysis and sealed. who was in that position. Both appear to be Springfield or Harpers Ferry
model 1855s with the Maynard tape primer doors visible on the lock. It is
Your muskets, no doubt, are relics found in water, as the stocks are still interesting to note that the muzzle still has a tompion (a wooden stopper for
JS:
preserved. You state that they are treated the muzzle), which probably shows the
through electrolysis so they are stable, weapon was being stored.
which is good, as they should no longer I remember about 30 years ago or so, a
rust. The stocks should be stable and hard good quantity of muskets of various sorts
as a rock as they appear treated, too. was found in the James River at City
Relic rifle muskets that still retain their Point, Virginia. Some of those muskets are
stocks are found in the market on Civil still on the market today, and similar ones
War dealer websites and Civil War shows. Two muskets found in water, $400-$500 each are priced at about $400-$500 in similar
The more history they have, the more condition, the same value as yours.
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
46
