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43114 |
early AMES marked Blacksmith Forged Skillet
Outstanding as a standalone example of early American country blacksmithing, an understanding of the artisan who left his name boldly set in the skillet’s iron handle, will be necessary to full appreciation of the old fry pan’s historic potential. Deeply set in the handle of this hand forged skillet is AMES a name that will ring true to the student of early American manufacturing as well as Mexican War and Civil War collector /historians. With a history too extensive to cite here, suffice it to say that it was as early as the later 1700s that blacksmith Oliver Ames set up his single forge shop in Massachusetts. Typical of the usual country blacksmith, in his early days, Ames would eak out a living fabricating all manner of iron tools and equipment from cooking grates and fry pans to door hinges, to farming and artisan tools. From here Oliver Ames’s would become the largest shovel manufacturer in the country. The Ames bloodline continued to expand in the foundry busuness to include John Ames in Chelmsford and John’s son N. P. Ames in old Springfield who would establish the Ames Sword Co. as the best known of Union Civil War contractors supplying all manner on military arms to the Union cause. (see: Sketches of the Old Inhabitants and Other Citizens of Old Springfield by Charles Wells Chapin ) This hand wrought skillet to include the AMES marked handle was blacksmith forged from a single piece of black iron. The bowl measures approximately 8 1/8 inches in diameter with an 8 ¾ inch handle. All remain in excellent original condition with a pleasing patina and good evidence of age and originality. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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4385 |
Fort Fisher N. C.- Powder Vessel - Official Records PRINTING PLATE
We’ll not repeat the entire story of Butler’s Folly here except for a quick reminder that it was a Union initiated scheme to strip and disguise a government ship (USS Louisiana) to look like a blockade-runner, load it with 215 tons of black powder and, under cover of darkness, anchor the thing in the shallow just off Fort Fisher at the mouth of North Carolina’s Cape Fear River. Upon setting an elaborate clockwork fuse system the Yankee sailors abandoned the rouse ship to wait in the clear for what they knew would be a disastrous result upon the Confederate fort. But alas, once the eruption of flames and rattling shock waves cleared, Fort Fisher stood pretty much as before, stout and proud. A report of the Union fiasco wound be included in the 1891 Government Printing Office publication of the Official Records of the Union & Confederate Armies. The product of this 4 X 8 X 7/8 inch wood and type lead printing plate of the Union Powder Vesselis seen in the Government Printing Office Official Record Atlas, Vol. 40, Plate 1. Emanating from a local estate sale the printing plate bears an old pencil inscription Lower Cape Fear Historical Society on the back.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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4412 |
2nd & 20th Maine - identified - Bugle Call – Civil War Patriotic Music Book
Another offering from a back corner of our many year accumulation from aggressively seeking out such treasures, (It has come time to pass some things on to an appreciative home.) this rarely seen BUGLE CALL music book is identified to a 2nd Maine Infantry transferee to the hard fought 20th Maine Infantry troop, this well-worn soldier’s music book is none the less complete with no torn pages and is solid with the exception of the back cover which is there but separated. This rarely seen original 1863 publication of The Bugle Call by Root & Candy of Chicago measures approximately 9 ½ X 6 ½ inches with 60 pages of war songs and patriotic music with lyrics. (An interesting variation to the American music collector is the oddity of having a section of the book, pages 15 through 30, bound in upside down.) The book’s patriotic offerings include: The bugle-call -- Stand up for Uncle Sam, my boys -- The harp of the Union band -- The Union League -- America -- Clear the way -- God save the nation -- The skedaddle rangers -- The ship of Union -- Gone to the war -- Flag of the fearless free -- Call 'em names Jeff -- Stand by the president -- The battle-cry of freedom -- O, wrap the flag around me, boys -- Our soldiers stand upon the field -- Hail, Columbia -- The star-spangled banner (lyrics only) -- What's the cause of this commotion -- After the battle -- Uncle Sam's funeral -- Ho! for the gun-boats -- The battle-call -- Brave boys are they -- Jefferson D., Sir -- Come rouse up! brave boys -- Grafted into the army -- English neutrality -- Fine old Union gentleman (lyrics only) -- Freedom and Union (lyrics only) and more.
A period pencil identification on the front cover offers G. S. Gould – Maine while on the first page in the top margin we see: Bangor Me. – Gilman S. Gould – Maine in period script.
Gilman S. Gould gave his residence as Muscle Rig Place, when he enlisted as a 24 year old Down EastMainer and mustered in on October 17, 1862 as a Private of Co. G 2nd Maine Infantry A list of the important battles in which the 2nd Maine participated during Gould’s tenure with the regiment would include, Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. On May 20, 1863 the hardened veteran transferred to Co. H of the 20th Maine Infantry. Here the record becomes a bit foggy as while the Maine Adjutant Report lists a Gilman S. Gold as a transfer from the 2nd Maine to the 20th Maine, the early reference Maine at Gettysburg lists only a single Gould in the regiment, William F. Gould (a transferee from the 2nd Maine) serving as a musician in Capt. Walter Morrill’s Co. B of the 20th Maine. Some further research will likely unravel this all too common records puzzle. The Maine Adjutant Report has our man transferring to the Veteran Reserve Corps on March 15 1865 with no method or date of discharge given? As we have advised, this piece is offered as found with some folds at the corners and lots of evidence of period use but as we say, complete with no major page tears, stains or other issues save separation of the back cover. A scarce Civil War collectable with a desirable 2nd Maine Infantry and 20th Maine Volunteers connection.
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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4373 |
19th century red stained DICE
Not a big deal but just the thing to lay in with a Civil War personal item grouping, we were fortunate to acquire three pair of these attractive little gaming pieces and are offering them here priced byby the pair for the collector who would enjoy a set for display. Cut from bone and stained red with desirable telltale evidence of hand construction. (Hand saw marks, ever so slightly out of square or with slight variation in size and uneven or off center dots.) Measuring roughly ¼ inch square the period red staining will set this pair apart in a personal item grouping game, set or gambling grouping. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4468 |
31st Mass. Vol. Infantry 19th ARMY CORPS BADGE
This wonderful jeweler made Civil War silver 19th Army Corps badge measures approximately 1 3/16 inch square and sports a tintype image of its’ owner in the center where the division color would usually be seen. The piece came out accompanied by three 31st Massachusetts Regimental Association ribbons and we surmise that the original owner placed the Civil War photograph in his old corps badge for post war wear at Association reunions. A desirable piece in excellent all original condition and still accompanied by the 1883, 1884 and 1885 31st Mass. Regimental Association reunion ribbons. An especially nice item for the Port Hudson enthusiast. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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4386 |
oil portrait - 19th Century Maine Ship Builder / Guy C. Goss) by Helen M. Hinds
Offered here as found and as photographed is this 16 X 20 inch portrait signed by listed 19th century Massachusetts artist Helen M. Hinds. (see: Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975 by Peter H. Falk & Audrey M. Lewis) A penciled name on the canvas back reads Guy C. Goss. Our quick google search for another likeness took us to the Maine Historical Society, MaineMemory.net site and their photo portrait of Goss. A search for additional images for comparison produced several photographs of a name sake three misted ship but no additional views of Goss himself who has a different beard configuration in the Historical Society image than in the oil portrait. (We ask buyers to do their research, look and compare for their own satisfaction.)
Guy C. Goss was of the shipbuilder firm of Goss & Sawyer later Goss, Sawyer & Packard said to be one of the most prolific shipyards of Bath, Maine. (see: A Maritime History of Bath, Maine and the Kennebec River Region, by William A. Baker) Born in 1822 Guy Carlton Goss was first a school teacher then, in the 1860 U. S. Census he is listed as a Bath, Maine mariner & shipmaster, in 1870 and 1880 as ashipbuilder. He died in 1890 having been a principal of one of the most successful 19th century American ship-building companies in the world.
As to condition, there is a small ½ inch puncture tear in the canvas just above the shoulder seam of the subject’s shirt. The oil on canvas portrait is otherwise solid with some stretcher wear but with pleasing color and an eye appealing look. We do take special care in presentation of our photographs and apologize for our host’s insistence of the distracting watermarking of enlargement. Please inspect our illustrations carefully however and if you have any questions please let us know.
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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4354 |
vintage MOUNT VERNON SOUVENIR WOODEN HATCHET
Fashioned from recovered wood from the post Civil War restoration of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, this appealing turn of the century souvenir hatchet remains in excellent original condition offering good evidence age with hand sawed construction. Nice color with its original old natural bug shellac finish is set off by the retention of its original graphic entitled Mount Vernon / Home of Washington. The little hand constructed souvenir measures 8 5/8 inches in total length. Not a big deal but an attractive piece for the Americana enthusiast without spending a lot of money. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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4308 |
earlier to mid 1800s Tortoise BROOCH & EARRING SET
Our illustrations will do best to describe this beautiful antique brooch and earring set. Constructed of natural shell in a classic period design this early pin and earring set remain in excellent condition with original wires and T-back pin fastener. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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4396 |
19th century word & picture PUZZLE
Measuring 7 1/8 inches square when completed this six piece pasteboard American Indian Chief puzzle remains in eye appealing condition with bright color yet with good evidence of age and originality. An attractive display item illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4312 |
matching pair earlier through mid 1800s Brass PUSH UP CANDLESTICKS
Standing approximately 6 inches high, these attractive all original brass candlesticks date in the earlier to mid 19th century. All in nice condition even to the original push-up hardware frequently missing on original period examples. Attractive and period for the lighting device collector or just to sit out on the mantle or a period writing table, this popular style is becoming difficult to find fostering lots of reproductions. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4319 |
Civil War era BULLET MOLD
Our photo illustrations will likely do best to describe this nice old two cavity bullet mold. With good evidence of age and period use, this neat old .36 caliber conical bullet and ball mold offers lots of period charm. With no maker markings this mold will lay in well with any Civil War vintage percussion revolver. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4394 |
mid 1800s - W. B. & Co.- Portland Pewter Coffee Pot
Our photographs will provide the best description on this offering except to advise that it stands approximately 9 ¼ inches and remains in excellent condition save a single small dent as pointed out in our illustration. (Could be pressed out but we’d leave it as found.) These Portland pewter pots are most frequently marked Patent 1862 leaving little doubt that this Patent Applied For example just pre-dates or is very early Civil War vintage. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
If you have an interest in neat Civil War period things or Maine in the time, you may enjoy our museum site at:
MaineLegacy.com
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4492 |
antique Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk Jar
Better known today simply as Borden’s or Eagle Brand, the name New York Condensed Milk Co. will be familiar to Civil War historians for its contract with the Union Army as the primary supplier of condensed milk. An extraordinary field ration for the 19th century foot soldier, a typical 10 ounce tin provided 1,300 calories, 28 grams each of protein and fat, and more than 200 grams of carbohydrate. Popular among the troops and on the home front for its purity, durability and economy, Borden’s patrioticEagle Brand logo soon became a commonplace home kitchen item. By 1864 Borden’s New York Condensed Milk Company condensery in Brewster, New York was processing milk from over 200 dairy farms as demand was driven by home and military use. As milk was delivered by horse and wagon to homes in populated areas, fresh condensed milk was made available from the milk delivery man who received the product in sealed bulk containers. The customer brought this jar to the wagon and it was filled by the milkman from his bulk container. Along with the patriotic EAGLE BRAND Borden logo the reusable jar bore the reminder This Glass to be Filled Even Full on its rim and the 1858 date of founding of Gail Borden’s NY Condensed Milk Company. The company name appears on the bottom of the jar. This original period jar stands 3 ½ inches high, is 3 inches wide at the mouth and remains in excellent condition. The heavy glass jar was commonly stored in the icebox in a covered outer container. An interesting history and a tough item to find!
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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4485 |
Confederate Navy identified: c.1852 New American Practical Navigator
With lots of good evidence of period use and some age foxing and light staining, this 1852 edition of The New American Practical Navigator by Nathaniel Bowditch remains complete in its 458 pages with the additional page of advertisements and fold out chart all with no tears or repairs. On the inside front cover is the small period stationers label of J. S. Kellogg DEALER IN Books & Stationary, Mobile, Alabama. On the flyleaf a the bold period brown ink signature J. D. Johnston with a pencil notation: C.S.S. Tennessee. Well accounted for in such early histories as DeLeon’s Navies in War and the Confederate Navy in the War Between the States and such as Addresses Delivered Before the Confederate Veterans Association of Savannah by United Confederate Veterans, Georgia Division and the Official Records of the Confederate Navy, James D. Johnston is recorded as Commander Provisional Navy, June 2, 1864, to rank from Oct. 4, 1863; Comm. C. S. S. Baltic 1861-63. Johnston was second in command of the iron clad ram C. S. S. Tennesseeunder Admiral Buchanan at the Battle of Mobile Bay where he was captured Aug.5 1864; prisoner at Ft. Warren; exchanged, Oct. 18, 1864; Mobile Station, 1864-65; surrendered May 4, 1865; paroled May 10, 1865. (Note: Capt. Johnston’s Confederate Navy sword is housed in the Hargrett Manuscripts Library Museum, University of Georgia; col:# ms508(m).) We found an 1896 obituary account as follows: J. D. Johnston died at Savannah, Ga., age 98; he is said to have been the surviving ranking officer of the Confederate Navy and the senior ranking officer by date of commission of the old United States Navy. Previous to the Civil War Johnston served in the U. S. Navy as Midshipman 30 June 1832; Passed Midshipman 23 June 1838; Lt. 34 June 1843. He resigned to join the Confederacy 10 April 1861. A neat item for the Confederate States Navy enthusiast. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques! |
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4439 |
Civil War vintage MAKE DO TUMBLER
A neat all original and period tumbler to use with your favorite beverage or to set out for display is this heavy 3 ¾ inch high tumbler fashioned from an iron pontiled blob top bottle circa 1850s early 1860s. Boldly embossed J. SIMONDS – BOSTON – MINERAL WATER this relic of the Civil War era, pressed into service from a damaged or discharged bottle, offers an attractive example of the typical make-do attitude of the period. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4370 |
19th century STONEWARE BEER BOTTLE
Standing approximately 8 ½ inches and just under 3 inches in diameter, this classic old stoneware bear bottle is marked BUCHAN – PORTOBELLO – EDINBURGH. With good evidence of age and originality while remaining in pleasing original condition this classic old 1800s bottle will display well. An attractive period item without spending a lot of money. Now that is a rarity! Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4519 |
Civil War Vet. - GAR MEMBERSHIP MEDAL
An especially nice serial numbered, (#V6145) Grand Army of the Republic membership medal with Post Commander Device. This especially attractive Patent of 1886 marked Civil War veteran medal is offered here direct from years of storage and is untouched with, sharp edges, a rich natural age patina and original suspension ribbon. Per G. A. R. requirements, these handsome medals were cast from the bronze of Confederate cannon. ( This medal will come with a nice color facsimile of an original issue envelope face attesting to use of captured Confederate cannon metal.) An attractive memento from a time when the G.A.R. was the most influential group in the country. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
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4383 |
18th century TINTED SPECTACLES in their original IRON CASE
A classic all original pair just as they were carried in the period and just as they have remained together for the decades since they were laid away in domed leather trunk storage, the new owner may wish to polish the original silvered brass frames and spruce up the surface of the old iron case but we are offering this wonderful pair of 18th century tinted spectacles and case just as they came out of attic storage, age patina untouched, as found and except for a gentle swipe with a damp cotton cloth would leave all as is. A rare opportunity for the collector / historian who appreciates the preservation of pure 18th century personal items, this set will serve as a wonderful accent laid in with Revolutionary War era relics, on a period book or desk top. (Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison.) Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques ! |
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4549 |
hand carved antique BONE SEWING IMPLEMENTS
Once upon a time before the modern day advent of plastics and other alloys, bone was the staple from which any number of decorative or utilitarian smalls were cut, shaved and filed to shape, frequently as a gift to a loved one or friend. Rings, pendants and assorted carved objects of the imagination called whimseys were often an object of the attention of a country craftsman squinting in the lantern light while winter winds howled at the night door. Sewing implements as are offered here offered many an evening’s pastime to the maker and a durable token of affection to the recipient. More difficult to find now there was a time not so long ago when these little decorative whimseys and utilitarian tokens were commonly found in attic stored antique sewing baskets, keepsake thread or candy boxes. Saved away among relics of the family attic, their stories, as unique as their shape and origin, long since lost in time. This little grouping of four antique sewing tools (illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison) will offer an attractive example of such long ago crafted implements and will display well in any antique sewing implement grouping or Civil War winter camp or personal item collection. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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4441 |
c.1800s SIDE-WHEELER decorated pine box panel
Sawed to size (18 x 8 x 9/16 inch thick) from seasoned Maine white pine, then stenciled on one side, these panels were then stacked and sent along to the box- shop with corresponding plain pine panels each cut to proper size. Here workers would assemble the rough cut panels to fabricate wooden crates and boxes for containment of all manner of goods. Side panels for standard size containers frequently utilized pre stenciled decoration with a place left for later addition of the end user’s name or content identification. The bold figure of a steam powered side-wheeler with its American flag fluttering from the stern was a popular figure in the patriotic 19th century. Recovered from the pine wood scraps of a turn of the century countrybox shop cleanout, this period panel remain in fine untouched condition with a wonderful honey age patina and clearly period stenciling. Wonderful Americana decorators seldom encountered in such nice condition ! Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
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