Page 46 - May-JOA-22

by John Sexton

Q: Hello, I happened across a sword that I believe is an 1860 staff and and field officer’s sword.
field officer’s sword. I was hoping you can give me some information on Similar can be found priced
its authenticity. I cannot find any markings on it at all. I have included at $150-$250.
several photos.
A militia staff and
JS: Your sword dates to circa 1880, a model 1860 militia staff field officer’s sword, $150-$250.

Q: Hi, I am hoping to find out more history and that’s all the information I’m able to find. It has no military plates
of asaddle from the Civil War. Possibly used attached to it and is very plain, except it is marked with an “88” pressed in
in the Volunteer 88th Regiment in the leather.
Pennsylvania. The saddle was found in a
barn east of Harrisburg, PA off of Route 80, JS: This is a typical early 20th century riding saddle and not from the
Civil War Era. Old saddles are coming to the market, priced in a wide
A 20th century saddle that could be used as a range but generally having values as decorations at $25-$50.
decorator item, $25-$50.

Q: Hi John, I recently purchased a Civil War JS: This print is not hand-colored but a chro-
lithograph at an estate sale as a gift for my hus- molithograph, which is a mechanically col-
band. I would like any information on it so I ored copy. This is a unique piece of Northern
may include a note with the gift. iconography showing an army of smiling
The lithograph is hand-colored on paper. “Brother Jonathons” marching into Dixie,
On the left, it has “J. H. Bufford, Lith, Boston” leaving Washington and the Potomac in the
and titled, Yankee Volunteers Marching Into background. Such was the patriotic fervor of
Dixie. “Yankee Doodle Keep it up Yankee the early war.
Doodle Dandy” is found underneath the title. Copies can be found at the Metropolitan
Above the title, it states: “Entered according to Museum of Art, Library of Congress, and
Act of Congress in the year 1862 by C.F. Morif many other institutions.
in the clerk’s office of the district court of Mass.” This is a scarce print, but like other Civil
The frame is simple brown wood with two War works on paper, few command much
holes on the side as if it was drilled in a wall at A mechanically colored chromolithograph, about $150 monetary value.
one point. There is some discoloration on the Case Auctions, Knoxville, TN, sold a very
margins of the print. Dimensions: 16.75 inches wide x 12.75 inches high. good example on July 14, 2018, for $150.

Q: Hi, John. I have in my possession, what I was told by my grandmother just below the Edward Barnes stamp. There are some other characters below
many years ago, is a Civil War knife. It has a very old sheath with it, unsure “Edward Barnes” close to the blade guard, but I can’t read them. Appears
if the sheath is the original. The knife has the “US” stamped on the blade to be a bone handle, though part of the bone is missing on the backside.
Any idea on value?

JS: This is a typical Antebellum Sheffield Bowie knife that was popular
among Civil War soldiers both North and South. This particular
example with ivory slab grips originally had a cardboard-veneered
scabbard with German silver mounts. The replacement scabbard of
leather is not uncommon during the Civil War Era.
This knife is well used but still has a pleasant, dark patina and
has a market value of $200-$300. Edward Barnes was a well-known
and popular Sheffield cutler known for high-quality Bowie knives.

A pre-Civil War Sheffield Bowie knife with dark patina
The Edward Barnes mark. and a good Edward Barnes mark, $200-$300.

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