Page 46 - JOAMay2021

by John Sexton

Q: Hi, Mr. Sexton. I need subject of a Smithsonian
help appraising a belt author publication on
buckle I obtained at an fakes. This one is most
estate sale over the weekend. fanciful having the name
I have been trying to search cast on the back
for others like it online and “Greenwood & Gray”
have only managed to find who made rifles in
one so far. Is there anything Georgia, never buckles.
you can tell me about the The style of the belt
buckle, including its possi- Above: A fake buckle made by Above: The back of the fake with the name “Greenwood & Gray,” attachment is also 20th
ble value? Thank you in the John Fairchild Co. an actual company that made rifles, not buckles. century, and no authentic
advance for your help. buckle from the Civil
War Era has that type of bar and hook. I constantly see these in
JS: Your belt buckle was made in the late 1960s by the John Fairchild auctions and flea markets selling for about $20 each as fakes, but they
Company of England who sold tens of thousands of a multitude of fake have sold for much more when buyers thought they were original over
and fantasy Civil War and other “historic” buckles. They are even the the years.

Q: This sword is from Kentucky. No scabbard. JS: This is an unusual eagle pommel mounted
officer’s sword. Rarely seen are the original white
metal grips from this era, circa 1830. The grip
An eagle pommel sword from ca. 1830, $200-$400.
possibly was replaced but appears dark from use.
Still, it is a pretty generic American eagle pommel
sword. Average values in the antique trade are
about $200-$400 for similar.

Q: Greetings, I was curious as to your thoughts on umbrella handles. Similar
these two Bowie knives? “fantasy” knives have sold
in auction in the last few
JS: Your knives are both very clever creations by years to unsuspecting
a modern forger. The etched inscription on one bidders for hundreds of
emulates known Confederate patterns on dollars, and a few have
swords, but no real etched knives were made Above: A well-carved alligator sold for thousands.
that have surfaced. Neither knife is old. handle on this fake. Caveat emptor.
It is possible the alligator carving is old as Left: Two fake (and too Left: Markings used on swords
similar examples are seen on walking sticks and fake) Bowie knives. were etched on these fake knives.

Q: I have a Civil War Special Order from General W.C. Moragne I’m
looking to sell. What do you value it at? I had somebody translate the Order
and it seems to outline movements of troops under different Commands
around Centreville, Virginia.

JS: This is not much more than a piece of Confederate bureaucratic
paperwork. It is a clerical manuscript “by order of General Bonham”
not written or signed by him. Clerks would often have to make
duplicate, triplicate, and even more copies daily to disperse. General
orders, special orders, and many other documents can be found.
Documents are the most common item that survived the Civil War.
It is still not terribly uncommon to find large groups of similar
documents; Confederate docs are much scarcer than U.S. A similar
U.S. document might sell between $20-$50 in a retail setting, where
your nicely preserved CS Special Order will most typically be priced at
Civil War shows at $50-$100. Common Confederate bureaucratic paperwork, $50-$100.

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. If you have a Civil War item for him to appraise, email a photo and a
description to mclwriter@gmail.com.

44 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles