| Sale: | Private Collection Thursday March 18th at 6:00 p.m. IMPORTANT AUCTION OF HISTORIC ARMS, MILITARIA, AMERICANA AND ARTWORK FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF JAMES L, KOCHAN The Lukens-Lenox Papers, c. 1740-c. 1870 |
 300 American Eagle Cap Plate, c. 1818 Die-struck brass plate, 4 ¾ x 3 1/3 in. This cap plate is believed to have been struck sometime between 1816-1825, probably in Philadelphia. It features a spread-wing Federal eagle under E Pluribus Unum scroll, surrounded by laurels with ‘1776’(in recognition of American independence) below. On the recto are two soldered eyes for attaching it to the cap and a tinned iron plume socket. $950/1250 Literature: Campbell & Howell. American Military Insignia, 1800-1851 (Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 1963). p. 59. Provenance: J. Duncan Campbell Collection; William Guthman Collection | ||
 301 New Jersey or Pennsylvania Dragoon Grouping, c. 1830 Cap: approximately 8 x 6 in. oval crown x 9 in. H; visor: 2 3/16 in. W In 1813, a new pattern cap was adopted for the U.S. Light Dragoons and its popularity soon spread to volunteer troops of horse. Various patterns of “grecian helmets” inspired by this cap were made and worn well into the 1840s/50s, although generally quite modified in form--especially in the shape of the crest and trimmings. However, this is the only extant dragoon cap identical to that used by the regulars, with one exception--the cap plate and metal trimmings are of gilded brass, while the U.S. Dragoons had white metal trim (silver for officers and pewter for enlisted men). It bears the maker’s label of Thomas Moyer of Philadelphia (working from c. 1811) and was clearly made following same pattern. Yet it is also quite probable that this is actually a refurbished, surplus army cap, with metal trimmings changed gold to suit the dress of a particular volunteer corps (and padded silk lining added for comfort). This helmet was worn by a member of the Elmer family during his service as an officer in some yet-to-be identified cavalry unit. Passed-down in the family along with the cap is a military neckstock, a c. 1825-30 gold bullion epaulette, and a plated iron spur. The embossed neckstock is 2 5/8 in. wide at center and 1 ½ in. wide at the ends by 14 ½ in. long; although much of the tooled finish has flaked off, the maker’s name is stamped at one end: H:CRESSMAN/PHILADA: (Henry Cressman, working in Philadelphia from c. 1806-45). $7000/9000 Provenance: by descent in the Elmer family of Bridgeton, NJ and Philadelphia, PA | ||
 302 New York Temperance Pledge DS, 1 page, 4to., nd [c. 1830?] Printed “Pledge” form in which the undersigned parties “believing that the use of Ardent Spirit, as a drink, is...hurtful to the social, civil, and religious interests of men...tends to form intemperate appetites and habits...do therefore agree, that we will not use it, or traffic in it; that we will not provide it as an article of entertainment.....and that...we will discountenance the use of it in the community.” Signed by three members of the Van Buskirk family residing at 181 Bleecker Street. $25/50 | ||
 303 The German Washington Rifle Corps, 1839 Hand-colored lithograph on stone by A. Hoffy, printed in 1839 by Duval, Philadelphia 1839, 11 ½ x 9 ¼ in. Beautifully-executed plate, published by Huddy & Duval as an separate insert in their important, but short-lived U.S. Military Magazine. This rare print of the uniform worn by the German Washington Rifles of Pennsylvania still retains its vivid original coloring. $350/450 |
||
 304 Standard or Color of the Shippensburg Troop of Cavalry, c. 1840 (obverse view before recently-completed conservation; recto detail after conservation) Blue silk with painted field on obverse and recto, 26 x 40 in., within conservation display frame As with most volunteer and militia corps throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding states, during the 19th century, the Shippensburg Troop of Cavalry relied on Philadelphia mercantile firms for their needs in uniforms, weaponry and military regalia. On the lower edge of the color is painted “Wm. Horstmann”, from whom the troop purchased the flag. By this period, William H. Horstmann was the leading supplier in that city and had also opened a branch in New York. Horstmann subcontracted out the painting of such colors to Philadelphia-based artists and sign-painters. This standard or color was probably painted by Augustus Koellner or copied from an original drawing by him, as the figure of the cavalryman is unmistakably his style of execution. It is quite similar to some of his uniform plates published in Huddy & Duval’s U.S. Military Magazine, for which he worked as both artist and lithographer. If derived from his work, the most likely candidate is John Woodside, a banner painter from Philadelphia who incorporated other Huddy & Duval views in his flags (such as in The First State Troop flag now in the collections of the Pennsylvania Military History Museum in Harrisburg; the eagle renderings on both this color and the Harrisburg flag are also similar). Koellner (1813-?) studied painting and lithography in Dusseldorf and Frankfurt, emigrating to Philadelphia in 1839, where he soon found ready employment as an engraver and designer for various publications and print-makers. In addition to his uniform studies, Koellner was also noted for his landscape views, many of which were published. He was active in Philadelphia until the 1870s. $20,000/25,000 Provenance: Joe Kindig, Jr., 8 July 1939; Appell Family Collection | ||
 305 Hair Comb Carved in the Shape of a Fish Probably early 19th century, carved baleen; 8 7/8 x 2 in. $100/200 | ||
 306 Lafayette’s Return, c. 1824 Printed cotton, 15 ¼ x 12 ¾ in., within 19th c. frame Framed commemorative handkerchief showing oval portrait of Lafayette in center, surmounted with a view of him at Independence Hall and below, arriving in New York Harbor. [together with] Theodore Frelinghuysen, Vice President of the United States. Colored lithograph from daguerreotype by Chilton, pub. by Currier & Ives, 13 ½ x 10 ½ in (view) in early frame. $150/250 | ||
 307 1842 Blue/Red Jacquard Coverlet, New Holland 96 x 80 in., center-seam construction Large blue-and-red, jacquard-wove coverlet with ‘NEW HOLLAND/1842’ in corner panel, center-seam construction. New Holland is located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. $350/650 Provenance: purchased at farm estate sale, Chester County, PA in 1990. |
||
 308 Flags for the Funeral of President William Henry Harrison: Callender Irvine ALS, 1 page 4to, Philadelphia, 19 April 1841 to MASK Faso U.S. Army Commissary General Irvine discusses the loan of “a few Flags to display” from the windows of a hotel in which a number of army officers are staying, as “the funeral procession [of the late President William Henry Harrison] shall be passing tomorrow.” He instructs the Military Storekeeper to “select two or three of the best of the Old Regimental Standards or Colors on hand, and if you have it, a Garrison Flag....” $150/200 | ||
 309 Calligraphic By-Laws of the Prescott Guards, 1855 Pen and ink on woven paper, 17 x 19 in., in original japanned and gilt frame By-laws of the Prescott Guards, Company G of the 38th Regiment of New York State. Charmingly inscribed and decorated with flanking doves and a cannon, with the unit’s by-laws recorded on a scroll surrounding a stylized American flag. $500/700 Provenance: Kenneth Snow; William Guthman Collection | ||
 310 After George B. McClellan The Battle of Cerro Gordo Lithographic map, pub. by US War Department, 1848, np. (Washington DC?); 18 ½ x 24 in. $250/350 | ||
 311 US Pattern 1828 Non-Commissioned Officers Belt Frog: 2 ½ x 4 ¾ in; long branch of belt: 38 x 2 1/8 in; short branch: 14 ¼ x 2 1/8 in. Fine example of the pattern first established for the use of non-commissioned officers of the U.S. Army in 1828 and continued in use among the infantry through the Mexican War in its original, whitened buff leather state. With the exception of the slightly-wider, double-frog (pierced to accommodate the studs of both sword and bayonet scabbards), this example is identical to the 1828 bayonet belt worn by the enlisted men. The recto bears partly-indecipherable name and unit markings: “Charles F. Ken[?]lesson/ O.K. R [?]”. Provenance: COL Richard A. Johnson Collection to c. 1978; Jerry Oberlin Collection to 2003 |
||
 312 Pattern 1839 Bayonet Belt Frog: 4 x 5 ½ in; long branch of belt: 40 ½ x 2 ¼ in; short branch: 20 x 2 1/4 in. In 1839 a new bayonet belt was approved to replace that of 1828 and this is the belt identified by various US accoutrement authorities, such as the late Roy Huntington, to be that pattern. This bayonet belt has a wide, single-frog and is more angular in appearance. On the frog recto of this example (not observed on others) was attached a leather button--presumably to secure to a slit in the cartridge box belt to prevent the cross belts from sliding forward when performing the manual of arms and other duties. The button is no longer attached, but has been kept with the belt. Marked on recto is “Geo. W. Ford No. 9”. | ||
 313 [An Illinois Officer Describes Mexican War Preparations] Nathaniel B. Dehorn ALS, 2 p. 4to, to his brother James Johnston, 5 July 1846, from Camp Alton, Illinois. Dehorn, newly-appointed first lieutenant in the “Perry Rifles”, 5th Company, 2nd Illinois Volunteer Regiment, describes the preparations of the volunteers from the state militia prior to departing for Mexico. He describes the uniforms of the Illinois troops and notes that “the Uniform of the Officers is the same as that of the regular army.” He discusses their “Elegant Camping Ground--within sight of the Mississippi River” and discusses camp life, including the probable march of one regiment to “the Jefferson Barracks...the best I have ever seen” and noting that “One of our Regiments will...have to go to santa fe Individually I prefer mexico.” A fine letter with very good content. 250/350 | ||
 314 After Carl Nebel [12 stunning Mexican War Battle Scenes from:] Kendall’s The War Between the United States and Mexico] Original color lithographs by on folio-sized, handmade paper; printed by Rose-Joseph Lemercier, Paris, 1850; each approximately 11 x 17 in. (view) in later frames. One of 600 sets of twelve prints produced to accompany George Wilkins Kendall’s text in the work, The War Between the United States and Mexico Illustrated. NY: D. Appleton, 1851. The work was distributed in three formats: “in paper covers @ $34, in elegant portfolios, $38; half bound, $40.” The twelve scenes depicted were the battles of Palo Alto, Monterey, Buena Vista, Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey (two views), Chapultepec (two views) and Scott’s triumphal entrance into Mexico City. Kendall asserted that “no country can claim that its battles have been illustrated in a richer, more faithful, or more costly style of lithography.” He was correct in being proud of this work, as it was an immediate success, lauded as the finest of its kind ever produced up to that date. The authors of Eyewitness to War--the seminal work on prints and images of the Mexican War--consider them the “eyewitness prints that must be compared against all others.” The prints were taken from sketches done on the scene during the war by the artist Carl Nebel, an expatriate German then living in Mexico, who had published earlier views of Mexico in his Voyage Pittoresque (Paris: 1836). Nebel traveled with the United States Army forces where he first met Kendall, a journalist with the New Orleans Picayune, and the two later agreed to collaborate on a portfolio-sized edition of prints and text that resulted in the above work. The project was three long years in the making, utilizing the best lithographic techniques available in the period and arranging for their hand-coloring in England by Fred R. Rosenberg, at three shillings for each print. $6500/9500 | ||
 315 Daniel O’Connell grouping 13 ½ x 11 3/8 (view) Green silk with irish harp, shamrock and fringing flanking portrait engraving of DO, “Daniel I’Connell Esqr. M.P.” holding scroll with “REP[EA]L” on it, surmounted by cockade or ribbon, consisting of 2 ½ in pleated green center, with 5 in. dia. white outer ring and green suspended lace with fringe ends (9 in. L incl. 1 ½ fringe ends x 1 ½ wide) |
||
 316 Inscribed Confederate Staff & Field Sword by Leech & Rigdon A Confederate, brass-hilted Staff & Field Officer’s Sword as produced by Leech & Rigdon with slightly curved, single-edged blade with unstopped fuller measuring 30 inches. Brass guard is somewhat roughly cast, consisting of two intertwined branches, with a “CS’ inset in the outer branch. There is a foliate embellishment on the outer branch near the quillon, described as “tobacco leaves” by some specialists. The sword is in overall excellent, untouched condition, with 100% original leather wraps and spiral brass wire winding on the grip. The blade is plain, with the exception of “Captain W. T. Powers” inscribed inside the single, wide fuller on the reverse of the blade; this inscription also appears to be original and executed in the style typical of the 1860s. Both the guard and blade show aged patina in keeping with its unaltered condition. The sword is the form known to Confederate edged weapon collectors as the “floating CS” Staff & Field Officers Sword. According to Confederate sword expert Frederick R. Edmund, it was “probably made in Memphis, Tennessee just after Rigdon joined Leech and while their products were still associated with The Memphis Novelty Works.” Only three examples of this pattern sword are known with “Memphis Novelty Works” stamped inside the branches of the guard and it is on this basis that the pattern was first identified as the product of Leech & Rigdon some years ago; this example, as with most others, is devoid of such markings. The guard is slightly heavier than later versions of this pattern, in keeping with its identification as one of the early Leech & Rigdon products. The period inscription on the blade refers to the wartime owner of the sword: Captain W. T. Powers of Hardin County, Tennessee, who commanded Company F of the 5th Kentucky Regiment (later 9th Kentucky Mounted Infantry), CSA. Similar, inscribed examples of Leech & Rigdon swords are known and, as identified Confederate officer arms, are considered extremely desirable. This sword comes with a full binder of documentation on its provenance and biographical information on its original owner, as well as a letter of authentication by Frederick Edmunds. $20,000/25,000 Provenance: acquired in 1965 by Fred Slayton; sold to James C. Harris, 1975; sold at Little John’s Auction of the Harris Collection, 12 August 1990, lot 146; private collection. Literature: this particular example is discussed in: James C. Harris, “Dog River Swords”, Man at Arms (May-June 1982), 10-15. | ||
 317 Ninth Plate Tintype of a Confederate Soldier in a Frock Coat. Said to be Carey Whittaker of Company D. 43rd North Carolina Infantry, he holds a small book (an orderly book?) in his right hand. $500/1500 | ||
 318 Ninth Plate Ambrotype of a Confederate Soldier in a Greatcoat Note that the soldier appears to be cross-eyed and had been identified by a previous owner as being Stephen Moore of Company B, 18th North Carolina Infantry. $500/1500 | ||
 319 Sixth Plate Ambrotype of a Confederate NCO Seated on a sofa and said to be Serjeant William G. Webb of Company K, 55th North Carolina State Troops. $500//1500 |
||
 320 Sixth Plate Ambrotype of a Confederate Soldier with Revolver and Musket With a civilian view of the same individual, both housed in the same double-case. $2500/3000 | ||
 321 Sixth Plate Tintype of a Confederate Field-Grade Officer This image of an unidentified officer was purchased at an antique shop in Hawthorne, California in 1993. It remains in the gutta percha case in which it was housed, although the matte that had been over the image was later removed, revealing the Confederate flag in the studio background! $4000/5000 | ||
 322 Quarter Plate Tintype of a Confederate Soldier armed with an Adams or Kerr(?) Revolver Purchased from Paul Reeder in 1993-94. $2750-5000 | ||
 323 Confederate Jacket and Trousers of Private T. Frank, 48th NC State Regiment, c. 1864 Single breasted, made of fine wool and cotton material woven in a 2/1 twill (known as “jeans cloth” during the period). This cloth is very similar to that used in a number of surviving Confederate North Carolina issue jackets, and is a light greenish brown in color. The jacket is made with a 4-piece body, similar to a shirt, but with a waistband and placket front. The jacket has six small US eagle enlisted buttons down the front. Only one of these buttons is original to the jacket (that at the collar), the remainder have been added since 1977, when a rather amateur attempt at restoring the missing portion of the waistband and lower front edge of the jacket was attemped. The pattern of the jacket is also similar to the coat worn by Bartlett Yancey Malone, 6th North Carolina, and a hunting shirt style, worn by Robert Hoke and now in the North Carolina Museum of History. The accompanying pair of trousers, as well as that below it, are nearly identical and virtually the same size. They appear to be similar in weave, cut and finish to other Confederate military issue trousers and the jeans cloth material of which they are made match samples submitted for contract in 1861 by one of the North Carolina mills. $65,000/75,000 |
||
 324 Military Trousers and Vest of Private T. Frank, 48th NC State Regiment, c. 1864 The military trousers are of the same material, cut and finish as those above. Both trousers have seen a good deal of wear and tear, and have both period and some recent repairs to them. The vest is probably a civilian form and made of wool satinet, woven in a 2/1 twill. Its overall color is light brown and it is made with a roll collar without notches, and has a five-button front. $25,000/30,000 | ||
 325 Civilian Vest, Trouser, Braces and Shirt, c. 1860-70s. These jeans cloth trousers are of a pattern that may be military, but are more likely of civilian make and of roughly the same size as those above. However, they are definitely of Civil War era use and may have been worn by the same wearer as above. The vest is made of two different kinds of wool jean, the upper portion 2/1 twill and the lower the same weave, but in a lighter brown shade. It lacks a collar and appears to be slightly later in date than the Civil War. The shirt and braces are associated, the latter is of a later period. $15,000/1800 | ||
 326 1771-dated Sampler 14 ¾ x 11 in. within frame Done by Susanna Collart, age 6, June 1771. Has the Pastoral Hymn Psalm 23 worked on it, with floral motifs, baskets of plenty and animals worked in the borders. $200/350 | ||
 327 Unknown Artist, British School, c. 1790 Portrait of a Gentleman in Red Coat Oil on wood panel, 9 x 7 in. oval, within gilded frame $750/1250 |
||
 328 Daniel O’Connell grouping 13 ½ x 11 3/8 (view) This framed grouping came out of New Jersey and relates to Daniel O’Connor (1775-1847), known as “the Liberator” of Catholic Ireland. He was born in 1775 in County Kerry and educated in France, returning to Ireland to study law. He built a successful practice representing Irish tenants against English landlords and from about 1798-the 1820s was active in the movement to repeal British laws the penalized Catholics because of their religion. In 1823 he organized the Catholic Association, which played a critical role in the passage of the Catholic Emancipation Act in 1829. O’Connell was elected to the House of Commons the same year and remained an MP until his death. In the 1840s, he focused all his efforts on the repeal of the Union Act, but despite his best efforts, the movement was premature. O’Connell was in failing health when the Potato Famine struck in 1845 and in his last appearance in Parliament, pleaded, “Ireland in in your hands...she cannot save herself.” He died in Genoa, Italy and his dying wish was fulfilled, with his “body to Ireland, My heart to Rome, My sould to God.” This framed 19th century memorial to O’Connell includes a steel engraving of the hero, surmounted by a green and white cockade that is said to be that of the Hibernian Society, but may be related to the Catholic Association. The engraving is flanked by silk streamers embroidered with shamrock and harp and are also associated with those organizations. The Hibernian Society was founded in Philadelphia in the late 18th century to assist Irish immigrants and remained active through the first half of the 19th century. | ||
 329 A Complete Run of the Classic Work on French Swords by Aries: Christian Aries, with Michel Petard. Armes Blanches militaires francaises. I-XXII. Paris: privately-published, 1966-1974. A complete run of this invaluable reference on French military edged weapons of the 18th and 19th centuries that should be on the shelf of any collector of Revolutionary War, Napoleonic, War of 1812 or Civil War period swords. Each volume contains large, detailed line drawings by Petard of the various arms, including maker marks, blade profiles, fabrication techniques, etc. Long out-of-print and quite scarce. $300/500 | ||
| Previous: Page 6 Next: Page 8 | ||