Page 42 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 42
by John Sexton
Mr. Sexton – I versions are more
Q:
would like an apprais- likely to have been
al, please. I am inter- used by southern
ested in learning what troops. Early war
it is worth and maybe battlefields are
selling it. A Harpers Ferry musket showing a manufacture date of 1851, about $1,000 littered with
.69 caliber round
Your long arm is a model 1842 Harpers Ferry ball ammunition expended from similar muskets. The
JS:
musket. It was made in 1851, as noted by the date on barrel should also have a date on the tang, usually
the lock. This was one of the predominant long arms matching along with proofs.
found in state arsenals at the time of the Civil War and I cannot tell from the photos the exact condition,
was issued to many state troops until the more but average, very good, complete examples with
advanced .58 caliber rifle muskets were available. matching barrel dates are priced at Civil War shows for
These muskets were made at the Springfield about $1,000.
Armory and Harpers Ferry, and the Harpers Ferry
I was hoping you could help me identify this ball I dug up in a northern Hi John, my husband and I recently found this
Q: Q:
Virginia backyard about five miles from D.C. and about a mile or less from Hebrew Union Veterans’ Association Civil War
several former forts/camps. It is perfectly round and hard. Decently smooth medal at an estate sale in Long Island, NY. We
for being underground one hundred years. It is definitely ferrous, probably tried looking online for information about it but
steel. It weighs 6 pound 2-3 oz. Its diameter is about 3.5 inches. couldn’t find much. I am interested in selling it
It has no holes or markings that I am aware of. Someone told me it and was wondering what it would be worth.
could be from the war of 1812 or the Civil War. Please see attached photos
and I look forward to your expertise. JS: This is a very rare badge. Speaking with the
top expert in the field of Civil War badges, he
This is not from the Civil War or for knows of no more than five badges like this one.
JS:
a cannon; a 6-pounder would take a 3.67- The last one that sold was maybe 15 years ago for
inch iron ball with a seam line. The ball $2,000. I have no question that your badge
would sell for that or more in today’s market.
here appears to be steel based on the
oxidation. There were many purposes for The Hebrew Union Veterans Association
iron/steel balls other than for cannon, formed in New York on March 15, 1896. It
such as roller mills. later became the Jewish War Veterans of the
U.S.A. tentially have good value. Please send
It may be round & metal, but it isn’t a cannonball. scans of a dozen of them or so.
Hello. Mr. Sexton, I was researching The poster here is best known as an escutcheon, or a soldier’s memo-
Q: JS:
appraisers for Civil War-era items, and rial, and is of little value in such poor condition. Even a really fine one
your name came up. I have enclosed some rarely sells for much more than $200-$300 and usually $100-$150.
pictures of a poster, Civil War, dated Nov Typically, these are for a particular soldier, and there is a blank oval
21, 1862. This has been in the family well where an albumin photograph
over 100 years. It is very readable with the would’ve been pasted. I can’t tell
names of soldiers upon it. Could you give on this one whether or not it has
me a price for this or an approximate been taken off or was never there,
value? I am looking to sell it. and I don’t see the soldier’s name.
We have some other items kept in the The archive of letters could
family as well (also over 100 years old) in potentially have good value.
great condition. They are letters (5 to 6 Please send scans of a dozen of
boxes) written to the attorney general from them or so.
attorney Dewey (of the Dewey Decimal
System fame) about wounded vets during
the Civil War, etc. We would like to have A damaged soldier’s memorial, or
you appraise them. Thank you so much. escutcheon, without a photo, maybe
$100-$150.
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 description to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
40
Mr. Sexton – I versions are more
Q:
would like an apprais- likely to have been
al, please. I am inter- used by southern
ested in learning what troops. Early war
it is worth and maybe battlefields are
selling it. A Harpers Ferry musket showing a manufacture date of 1851, about $1,000 littered with
.69 caliber round
Your long arm is a model 1842 Harpers Ferry ball ammunition expended from similar muskets. The
JS:
musket. It was made in 1851, as noted by the date on barrel should also have a date on the tang, usually
the lock. This was one of the predominant long arms matching along with proofs.
found in state arsenals at the time of the Civil War and I cannot tell from the photos the exact condition,
was issued to many state troops until the more but average, very good, complete examples with
advanced .58 caliber rifle muskets were available. matching barrel dates are priced at Civil War shows for
These muskets were made at the Springfield about $1,000.
Armory and Harpers Ferry, and the Harpers Ferry
I was hoping you could help me identify this ball I dug up in a northern Hi John, my husband and I recently found this
Q: Q:
Virginia backyard about five miles from D.C. and about a mile or less from Hebrew Union Veterans’ Association Civil War
several former forts/camps. It is perfectly round and hard. Decently smooth medal at an estate sale in Long Island, NY. We
for being underground one hundred years. It is definitely ferrous, probably tried looking online for information about it but
steel. It weighs 6 pound 2-3 oz. Its diameter is about 3.5 inches. couldn’t find much. I am interested in selling it
It has no holes or markings that I am aware of. Someone told me it and was wondering what it would be worth.
could be from the war of 1812 or the Civil War. Please see attached photos
and I look forward to your expertise. JS: This is a very rare badge. Speaking with the
top expert in the field of Civil War badges, he
This is not from the Civil War or for knows of no more than five badges like this one.
JS:
a cannon; a 6-pounder would take a 3.67- The last one that sold was maybe 15 years ago for
inch iron ball with a seam line. The ball $2,000. I have no question that your badge
would sell for that or more in today’s market.
here appears to be steel based on the
oxidation. There were many purposes for The Hebrew Union Veterans Association
iron/steel balls other than for cannon, formed in New York on March 15, 1896. It
such as roller mills. later became the Jewish War Veterans of the
U.S.A. tentially have good value. Please send
It may be round & metal, but it isn’t a cannonball. scans of a dozen of them or so.
Hello. Mr. Sexton, I was researching The poster here is best known as an escutcheon, or a soldier’s memo-
Q: JS:
appraisers for Civil War-era items, and rial, and is of little value in such poor condition. Even a really fine one
your name came up. I have enclosed some rarely sells for much more than $200-$300 and usually $100-$150.
pictures of a poster, Civil War, dated Nov Typically, these are for a particular soldier, and there is a blank oval
21, 1862. This has been in the family well where an albumin photograph
over 100 years. It is very readable with the would’ve been pasted. I can’t tell
names of soldiers upon it. Could you give on this one whether or not it has
me a price for this or an approximate been taken off or was never there,
value? I am looking to sell it. and I don’t see the soldier’s name.
We have some other items kept in the The archive of letters could
family as well (also over 100 years old) in potentially have good value.
great condition. They are letters (5 to 6 Please send scans of a dozen of
boxes) written to the attorney general from them or so.
attorney Dewey (of the Dewey Decimal
System fame) about wounded vets during
the Civil War, etc. We would like to have A damaged soldier’s memorial, or
you appraise them. Thank you so much. escutcheon, without a photo, maybe
$100-$150.
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 description to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
40
