Auction 739 April.

Large group of more than 30 "United Spanish War Veterans" badges, medals, and insignia, including: five member's medals; national encampment medals for New Orleans 1931, Milwaukee 1932, Denver 1929, Philadelphia 1930, Milwaukee 1946; state encampment badges for Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida; an unnamed Sampson Medal with a USS Brooklyn bar; a Malate Cross presented by the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for Heroic Services in the Philippine Islands; and several others, most with patriotic or red-and-yellow ribbons. In overall very good to fine condition, with some splitting and fraying to ribbons.

Uncommon 2.25 x 4 carte-de-visite bust-length portrait of Major General George H. Thomas in his two-star military uniform, signed below in ink, "Geo. H. Thomas, Maj. Genl U.S.A." Cloth-matted and framed with an engraved plate to an overall size of 8.75 x 12.5. In fine condition, with some light soiling.

Union Infantry officer's deep blue frock coat with 1st lieutenant shoulder straps, scarlet NCO sash, and officer's belt with buckle. The coat features nine brass-tone post-war buttons, each bearing a spread-wing eagle with the "I" shield on its chest, denoting the infantry branch of service, and the back of each stamped by the Waterbury Button Company, a style that wasn't used until after the Civil War. Each cuff bears three similar buttons, with the reverse of those bearing war-era "Extra Quality” backmarks. The shoulder straps feature gold wire bullion borders and bars with a solid dark blue field. The included NCO sash approximately measures 92˝ in length, and the belt approximately measures 40˝ in length and features a brass-tone Union officer’s belt buckle numbered on the back, “82.” The condition of the coat is fair, with several moth holes and an old 6˝ stitched repair on the front breast; the sash is in very good condition; and the belt and buckle bear slight overall wear.

Collection of eight signatures of Union officers on individual slips and cards, including: Henry Warner Slocum, Irvin McDowell, Henry J. Hunt, Daniel Sickles, Oliver O. Howard, John Pope, John Lorimer Worden, and Benjamin F. Butler. All but Butler are handsomely matted and framed with portraits or engravings to overall sizes ranging from to 9.25 x 11.5 to 14.5 x 15; the Butler signature is matted but not framed. In overall fine condition.

Section of 4.25˝ x 1.75˝ x 1.25˝ wood attributed to the USS Atlanta, an ironclad that served in the Confederate and Union Navies during the Civil War. Affixed to a 8.5˝ x 5.5˝ wooden mount, marked "CSS Atlanta," with attribution label affixed to the reverse: "This small piece of wood was recovered from the Confederate ironclad 'Atlanta' on June 17, 1863 after being battered and captured by the U.S.S. Nahant and the U.S.S. Weehawken. This piece was mounted in April 1967, E.L.D." In fine condition.

Originally built as the British blockade runner Fingal, the ship was converted into the Confederate ironclad CSS Atlanta during the Civil War. In June 1863, she ran aground while attempting to attack Union blockaders in Wassaw Sound, Georgia, and was captured after a short battle with Union monitors Weehawken and Nahant. Repaired and commissioned as USS Atlanta in 1864, she served the Union Navy on the James River for the remainder of the war before being decommissioned in 1865.

Three documents pertaining to the 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment, issued at Vicksburg in 1865 and 1866, all framed to 9.25 x 11.5. Includes:

- May 8, 1865: a "List of Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage, transferred by J. A. Dean, 1st Lieut. and Regimental Quartermaster 5th U.S. Colored Artillerty (Heavy), at Vicksburg, Miss.," documenting the transfer of new equipment to include artillery jackets, pants, shoes, stockings, shirts, boots, knapsacks, drum heads, camp kettles, and tents, signed at the conclusion by Joseph A. Dean.

- August 7, 1865: a document certifying receipt of an artillery jacket, pants, shoes, and stockings by Daniel Steward, requesting "Captain D. F. Nichols, Commanding Co. 'G,' of 5th Reg't U.S. Arty. Hvy., to place against me on the Company Clothing Book at the prices stated."

- January 17, 1866: a similar document certifying receipt of a pair of stockings by William Hurst, requesting "Commanding Officer Capt. Daniel F. Nichols, Co. G, of 5th Reg't U.S. Col. Arty. (Heavy), to place against me on the Company Clothing Book."

In overall fine condition.

Original 7 x 4 stereoview photograph of "The Big Rock' at John Brown’s Grave, North Elba," published by Seneca Ray Stoddard of Glens Falls, New York, on its original studio mount. Lengthily captioned on the reverse in an unknown hand: "American Views, Adirondack Mountains, Grave of John Brown, the patriot. North Elba. 1890. This is on the farm of John Brown (who was executed for the attack at Harpers Ferry, Va., just before the war of the Rebellion). The grave is in a small enclosure with a simple headstone. In the same enclosure is a large natural rock, on which in large letters, deeply cut is the simple inscription as seen." In fine condition.

Extremely desirable ferrotype token from the 1860 presidential campaign, 1″ in diameter, featuring a portrait of the beardless Abraham Lincoln on one side (based on Mathew Brady’s iconic Cooper Union photograph), with his vice presidential running mate Hannibal Hamlin on the other. Their portraits are encircled with raised text, "Abraham Lincoln, 1860" and "Hannibal Hamlin, 1860." In fine condition, with minor crazing to the portraits.

Extremely scarce ferrotype token from the 1864 presidential campaign, .75″ in diameter, featuring a portrait of the bearded Abraham Lincoln within a thin metal frame, with text in the image reading: "Abraham Lincoln, 1864." The reverse is blank. In fine condition.

Desirable silver-tone medallion the 1864 presidential campaign, approximately 1.5˝ in diameter, featuring oval profile likenesses of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson grasped by eagle in flight and flanked by flags, two bearing liberty caps, with legends reading: "Freedom to All Men" and "War for the Union." The outer band on the reverse reads, "Republican Candidates 1864," with a central legend: "For President Abraham Lincoln of Illinois, For Vice President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee." In very good to fine condition, with scattered surface wear and tarnishing, and a hole drilled at the 12-o'clock position.

Republican ticket for the November 6, 1860 presidential election in New Hampshire, one page, 3 x 4, headed with "Republican Ticket" and the vignette of an eagle carrying an American flag and a banner reading: "Liberty and Union." The ticket reads: "Lincoln & Hamlin. For electors of President and Vice-President, John Sullivan, Ebenezer Stevens, David Gillis, Nathaniel Tolles, Daniel Blaisdell." In very good to fine condition. Lincoln carried the state with over 56% of the vote.

Small gem-size albumen photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln mounted in decorative foil frame, measuring .75˝ x 1˝ overall, circa 1864–1880. In very good to fine condition.

Carte-de-visite photographic portrait of Abraham Lincoln mounted in decorative foil frame, measuring 2.75˝ x 4˝ overall, circa 1864–1880. In very good condition, with some surface scuffs and wear, and some irregular bends to the foil frame.

Attractive original circa 1865–1878 engraved portrait of the bearded Abraham Lincoln by William G. Jackman (after a portrait by Mathew Brady), 7 x 9, featuring the president in a bust-length pose, with his facsimile signature below. Imprinted at the bottom of the image: "Engd. by W. G. Jackman, Brooklyn N.Y." Framed to an overall size of 10 x 12. In fine condition.

Appealing original circa 1864 engraved portrait of the bearded Abraham Lincoln by John C. Buttre (after a photograph captured by Mathew Brady), 5.5 x 7.5, featuring a bust-length likeness of the president in formal attire. Trimmed and framed to an overall size of 12.25 x 14.25, with the trimmed caption and attribution affixed on the frame's backing.

Handsome original circa 1862 engraved portrait of the bearded Abraham Lincoln by Hezekiah Wright Smith, 7.25 x 9.5, featuring the president in a bust-length pose at the center of an oval oak leaf-and-acorn surround, with his facsimile signature below. Imprinted at the bottom: "Published by Benj. B. Russell, 515 Washington St., Boston." Framed to an overall size of 12 x 14. In fine condition, with uniform toning.

Profile likeness of Abraham Lincoln in brass relief, 5.5˝ x 7.5˝, mounted at center of a 12˝-diameter velvet-covered circular board. In very good to fine condition.

Handsome Civil War-Dated US Model 1860 Naval Cutlass by Ames Mfg. Co., measuring 31 1/2" overall, with a 25 5/8" curved, single-edged blade having wide, single fullers. The steel has much of the original bright finish visible, with the balance freckled plum-brown, heaviest along the back edge and at the tip. The ricasso has the Ames scroll trademark on the reverse, with clear "D.R. / 1862" on the obverse. The brass hilt has an overall yellow-ochre patina with areas of dark ochre tarnish scattered across the exterior, and the ridged leather grip has moderate flaking throughout, and the braided wire wrap is no longer present. The original riveted leather scabbard is included that is intact and fully serviceable, but does exhibit extensive surface flaking throughout, as well as a torn section at the very tip. These scabbards did not survive at the same rate as the cutlasses themselves and this is a very good original example. This is a very attractive Civil War naval cutlass, in very good condition overall.

Mexican-American War-era US Model 1842 musket and bayonet, NSN, .69 caliber, 42" barrel with a very good, lightly pitted bore. This musket has an 1847 dated Harpers Ferry lock with matching barrel and full complement of legible proofs at the breech. The metal has been cleaned to an overall pewter gray patina with scattered small spots of darker plum-brown freckling scattered throughout, as well as some remaining traces of mild pitting at the barrel breech and on the nipple bolster. Even freckling is present on the lockplate, but the markings are still crisp and clear, and there are some areas of light pitting present on the hammer.

The walnut stock is in good plus condition with numerous handling marks and surface blemishes scattered about the thick, added oil finish. No inspector cartouche is visible, however there is a relatively crisp "4" stamp on the left side of the stock, just behind the sideplate. The action is tight and fully functional, with a correct, trumpet-headed ramrod also included. The musket is accompanied by an original "US" marked socket bayonet that measures 20 1/2" overall, with a 17 1/2" angular blade having a single wide fuller and hollow-ground back flutes. The metal has a mostly plum-brown patina with gray metal present along the raised edges. No scabbard is included. This is a great looking Model 1842 smoothbore musket, made by a desirable federal armory, and is in very good plus condition. Antique.

Prussian Model 1809/39 percussion musket with bayonet, NSN, .71 caliber, 41" barrel with a dark, pitted bore. This is a so-called 'Potsdam Musket' with all of the visible metal having a dark, plum-brown patina that has even pinprick pitting throughout that gets quite heavy on and around the nipple bolster. The lockplate is marked "POTSDAM" just ahead of the hammer, while the barrel has some visible proofs, and an "1826" date on the left flat. The brass barrel bands and trigger guard have a frosted yellow-ochre patina throughout. The stock has small handling marks and surface blemishes scattered about the otherwise quite nice old oil finish, with some heavy erosion on the right side of the wrist just behind the nipple bolster. Additionally, there are some initials carved into the buttstock on the left side: "T (or possibly an ‘L’) D." The action does not lock at full-cock, and the sear is worn so that the hammer will drop from half-cock. An original trumpet-headed ramrod is present, as well as an original socket bayonet that measures 22 1/2" overall, with a 19" angular, unfullered blade without back flutes.

These Prussian muskets were stop-gap weapons imported to arm the hastily assembled volunteer regiments mustered into service by both sides at the start of the Civil War. As US arms production ramped-up, these flintlock conversions were relegated to garrison duty or storage. This example is in fair-good condition overall. Antique.

This is the smooth-side variant oblate spheroid canteen with three fixed metal bails for the no longer present cloth strap. The canteen has no visible maker’s markings on the spout, and only has two shallow dents, one on either side. The body of the canteen retains the original gray-brown jean cloth cover, which has intact seams, but also has numerous minor stains, as well as several small spots of insect damage throughout. The original worn, but still serviceable, cork stopper is still attached to one of the bails via the original short metal chain. A fine example of a US Civil War canteen.

Handsome rosewood fife that measures 15 1/2" in overall length, with tapered 2" nickel steel ferrules at either end. The body measures a little over 3/4" at its widest part (the swell just before the embouchure hole). The fife is stamped with the maker and model names a little further down the tube: "GEO. CLOOS / GC / CROSBY." There are some minor handling marks and scratches present on both the wood body and metal ferrules. These "CROSBY" marked fifes were made in the style of noted Boston instrument maker Walter Crosby and were first made for the Boston market by New York City maker George Cloos sometime around 1884, when the first printed advertisements for this model fife appeared in Boston newspapers. This example is in excellent condition overall.

Non-excavated brass, die-struck, lead-filled Civil War US 1839 pattern oval belt plate measuring 3 1/2" across. The brass has an overall dull yellow-ochre patina with some small dents and faint surface scratches scattered across the face, but the "US" and double-beaded border are still clear and well-defined. The reverse has typical Civil War era arrowhead studs, with practically all of the original lead filling still in place. There are illegible scratches present, perhaps a previous owner’s name or unit, but the date "1862" is still legible. The plate is housed in a small Riker box with red cloth backing, and is a very good example of a Civil War era waist belt plate.

Very handsome US-issue cap pouch that has extremely nice leather, with only some very minor crazing on the flex points of both the outer and inner cover flaps, as well as some slightly heavier crazing on the closure strap. The exterior flap has a soft, but still legible "R. WHITE / US / ORD. DEPT. / SUB INSPECTOR." stamp, while the inner flap has a maker’s stamp: "S.H. YOUNG & CO. / NEWARK / N.J." There is mild verdigris on the closure stud and belt loop rivets, while the original woolen lining is still present. An original wire vent pick is present in its holder along the sidewall as well.

Stephen H. Young & Co. was a Newark, NJ, maker who had a single large 1865 contract for 10,000 infantry accoutrement sets, with this pouch a part of the contract. A very fine example of a Civil War contractor-made US musket cap pouch.

Handsome early Civil War-era Chasseur-style leather shako military cap, identical in pattern to the French Model 1858 Chasseur Shako, and was almost certainly one of the 10,000 sets of Chasseur uniforms imported into the US circa 1860 by the Godillot company of Paris, France. The shako has most of the original tarred finish remaining, with some minor crazing and flaking throughout, heaviest on the squared peak and along the stiffening bands on the sides of the crown. The interior of the shako is missing the original comfort band, but is otherwise in fine shape, and has some portions of the original chinstrap remaining. The underside of the peak retains most of the original green paint finish, with large embossed "G" in the center. All of the stitched seams are still strong and intact. The front of the crown has the original painted sheet brass eagle and infantry horn plate, and a period replacement large maroon parade pompom as well; the pompoms that originally came with these shakos were shorter and had a more tapered "acorn" shape. Originally, there would have been a red, white, and blue metal cockade behind the eagle’s head, but that is no longer present. Additionally, there are two added holes on either side of the shako near the temples where a wearer-added chinstrap was once installed.

These caps were not very popular with the troops as they were uncomfortable and quite hot, despite the ventilation grommets on either side of the crown. Civil War units known to have been issued these shakos at the start of the war include the 18th Massachusetts Infantry, the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry, and the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry.