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There's a lot to describe here on this absolutely gorgeous, complete, and all-original Officer's belt rig, so I'll just jump-in and start. This Officer's rig has everything any field or staff officer would have worn in the war, from his beautiful sword belt, the gorgeous imported officer's sword with fantastic etching, down to his holster and Colt Navy at his side. Though no real provenance accompanies this rig, it was acquired just last month in Columbia, South Carolina, and this rig also has a distinct "Southern flavor" to it in several attributes. The belt leather itself is complete, undamaged, and solid, with no repairs whatsoever, being perfectly pliable and no crazing at all. It is a rougher finish leather, and has a more local-made feel to it--not some Federal arsenal quality or style. More like an unfinished leather or poorer quality leather that plagued the leather-starved South (they didn't use cotton canvas to make accouterments instead of leather for nothing!) The M1851 Eagle Sword Plate is a small-tongued, pre-war version with beautiful and intact German silver applied wreath. Though the two plates are both numbered and clearly fit like a glove, the plate is marked "408" and the keeper is "723". They fit perfectly, and clearly came from the same maker (probably Ames, as the style looks like theirs, and they were good quality makers before the war), and thus, they fit like a glove (each plate was essentially hand-fitted, as any of you know it's hard to find just any old keeper to fit any tongue--they were hand-fitted at the maker's shop.)

The Klingenthal-made and imported M1850 "Foot Officer's" Sword is a wonderful specimen, having the complete original wire and sharkskin wrap 100% intact. The spine of the blade bears the Klingenthal maker's mark on this beautiful specimen, fully-legible in the fancy cursive script. The etching is still VERY nice on this one! The "US" and "E Pluribus Unum" are easily seen, as are all the crossed flags, eagle, shield, quiver, cannon, floral and vine designs--you name it. The blade is completely untouched, uncleaned, and a great gun-metal patina. The brass guard has the typical exquisite floral and ivy design, of the highest quality, with ample amounts of original gold gilt remaining. Same can be said of the brass mounts on the original leather intact scabbard--ample gold gilt remains, making for a splendid-looking specimen. The seam of the leather scabbard is completely intact, and shows the usual wear for an issued and war-used foot officer's leather scabbard.

The Colt M1851 .36 cal. Navy Revolver comes with the original local-made and very pretty leather holster--which definitely has a southern-style to it. Not only is it clearly a local-made piece (not arsenal) in its design, form, and construction, but it has some very unique and ornate fruit and leaf designs impressed into the edges of the flap in front, and all the way around the back. I've seen this style of embossing on a great southern/local valise I had once owned, and it was clearly the style that was used before and during the war, and was considered as "officer-grade" for finer, more expensive tastes. The Colt M1851 Navy Revolver is complete, all-original, fully-functional in every way, and has a splendid look. The metal is that perfect just-toned-down dark patina where the original bluing has just faded. The all-matching serial numbers of 135412 are easily readable. The original grips are still very pretty, and the typical holster wear to be found on a piece carried and used in service within the holster through the war. No missing or replaced parts--everything "righteous", on the Colt, and on everything on the rig.

Let the pictures do the rest of the talking. Coming from Columbia, South Carolina, and with all the pre-war and local-made attributes, it can be a truly splendid display of an officer's rig that any Southern Officer would have led our boys unto the many fields of glory. And it won't cost you a new car to own! For the price of a dug CS buckle, you can have everything an officer wore in the War. I think I know which one I'd rather have...

Non-Excavated Original US "Arrow-Hook" Belt Buckle w/All Intact Attachment Loops

Offered here is a pretty, all-original, non-dug US arrow-hook belt buckle. The original attachment loops are present and solidly intact. Bright patina on the face, as clearly it was cleaned within the last 20 years (probably a reenactor, if I had to guess). It's starting to tone back down, and with a little handling, it'll go back to a nice, mellowed patina. But as it is, it's a great display piece that shows precisely how the plate would have looked in war! The Federals were shining their brass for every dress parade inspection--no browned or dirty brass back then in the war. What brass looks like today is NOT how it appeared back then! (Try telling that to goofy "hardcore" reenactors who want 145 year-old attic-brown weapons and brass on their uniforms.) Cheap, cheap!

Great ID'ed 21st Iowa Veteran's Grouping -- 3rd Sgt. Theodore George Weatherby, Company H, 21st Iowa

Directly from Weatherby's Descendent, My Good Personal Friend, Dave Callaway

Now, don't call my buddy "Uncle" Dave and start calling him "Yankee Dave"! He won't like that--even though he has to grudgingly admit one of his ancestor's indeed was a "Yankee"! Here's an excellent grouping of veteran's reunion ribbons, medals, and some nice wartime images of some of his companions as well. We'll start with describing the images first. There's a fantastic CDV of Major General L. H. Rosseau (hard one to ever find), which has his name printed on the CDV. On the back of the Major General's image is the image of his wife--so a true bonus, double-image CDV. In the upper left-hand corner (in the picture below) is a great standing image CDV of a compatriot in the 21st Iowa, wearing his full-dress uniform and vest (with pocket watch). His image has a rare "Hinton's Photograph Gallery - 99 Camp Street - One Door From Poydras - New Orleans" backmarking, complete with 2-cent tax-stamp. The middle image is that of a young soldier in the 21st, sitting with his 4-button standard shell jacket, with vest, yet another rarer New Orleans backmarking of "L. I. Prince, Photographer, 112 Canal & 8 St. Charles Str, Cor. Building over Union Insurance Co, New Orleans," with the 2-cent tax-stamp as well. The bottom image is a fantastic 4-man CDV, sitting and standing, wearing all of their dress uniforms and vests, also with a tax-stamp. There is a nice original cabinet card of "Old Abe", the "war eagle" that the 8th Wisconsin carried into battle in the war, which has a great historical description on the back. There are four (4) GAR medals and one GAR pin, as well as three (3) reunion ribbons, and three GAR rank ribbons (ranging from "Reception Committee" to GAR Post "Commander".) The 21st Iowa had a distinguished history, fighting here in the Deep South/Western Theater, including shedding blood here in the Vicksburg Campaign within Brig. Gen'l Lawler's Brigade. In 1864, they would be assigned to 2 months of guard duty within New Orleans/Algiers, which is when the images with the New Orleans backmarking would have been taken, before launching into the Mobile/Spanish Fort campaign until the end of the war. Anyway you look at it, it is a very desirable ID'ed Iowa soldier's grouping, and if you price it out, it's only $48.43 per piece...

Outstanding Original Arsenal Smoothside Canteen, Complete w/Intact Spout, Stopper, & Full-Length Strap

This is one of the finest original Civil War smoothside canteens I've ever had to offer. Only if there was cloth on the outside would it be any better. This one is otherwise complete in every way, and in outstanding untouched condition. It is in essentially the same condition as the day it was issued. The soldering is intact and the canteen is perfectly sealed--it could water as well today as the day it was made. No cracks, no damage, no breaks, and no holes. The original stopper fits snuggly within the tin spout. The original cotton webbing shoulder strap is also intact, unrepaired, and complete full length, with the classic soldier tie-up knot to wear the canteen at the right length. This style of smoothside canteen is either a St. Louis Arsenal or Cincinnati Arsenal--both being essentially identical in form, design, and measurements as this one. A great Western Theater rarer smoothside canteen in phenomenal condition. The perfect addition to your collection....

Phenomenal, Museum-Quality ID'ed Florida Surgeon's Field Medical Chest/Apothecary Set

ID'ed to Dr. Thomas M. Palmer of Monticello, Florida -- Surgeon of the 2nd Florida Infantry Regiment

1850's Maker-Marked Set "Dr. Edward Sill's Drug Store -- Near The Central Hotel -- Columbia South Carolina"

If you know anything about my wife, you well know she is a PhD. Clinical Pharmacist working within the University of Mississippi Medical Center. With a "druggist" in the house of that caliber, I had to get this! This is a phenomenal piece of history in so many facets: not only is it a maker-marked 1850's "field" or "plantation" medical/apothecary set from Dr. Edward Sill in Columbia, South Carolina, but it is an outstanding ID'ed piece of Florida and Confederate history to boot. Best of all, this set helped to treat thousands of wounded and dying Confederates through 4 long years of war. This comes directly from the Palmer estate, sold at auction last year. (I have attached photo's of the auction listing, and will provide this, and all other information to the lucky and happy buyer.) The Palmer family has produced generations of physician's in the Monticello, Florida area. My friend Charles Lindsey, who acquired this set at auction is form the area, even had one of the Palmer's as his childhood doctor! The case itself is made of gorgeous walnut, with furniture-grade brass hardware, such as the keyhole, hinges, and flip-up handles. The lid lifts open to expose the myriad of original glass apothecary bottles, 16 in total (4 large, 2 medium, and 10 smaller bottles). All but 2 have the original glass tops/stoppers. There are 11 bottles with the original "Dr. Edward Sill's Drug Store" labels intact, with others having remnants of the labels remaining. Almost all of the bottles have some drug name written upon them, and most of the bottles have their "funky" medicinal liquids or powder compounds within them! My wife has had a field day investigating precisely what they were using, and trying to figure out the "why" (such as a couple of Rhubarb bottles). If you want to know more about the drugs and my wife's investigations, we can discuss that with the buyer. None of the bottles are leaking and are in good condition. Pulling-out the bottom drawer reveals the original scale brass weights (almost all marked in "drams") that every doctor needed to measure the appropriate dosage. There is a small hole built into the top of the drawer, and included in this set is the original pin that would be placed into the drawer so that a scale could be affixed for dosing. No scale comes with the set, but you can easily acquire one for display purposes. Under the weights' tray is a hide-away space underneath. The bottom drawer has the 3 original porcelain "Dr. Edward Sill's Drug Store" jars, with intact "Dr. Edward Sill's" labels and drug identification on each. Upon the drawer-lid of the bottom drawer is the clear maker identification "Dr. Edward Sill -- Near the Central Hotel -- Columbia South Carolina -- Fresh & Genuine Drugs & Medicine -- Chemicals & Co -- Family & Plantation Medical Chests -- Carefully Put-Up". Nothing is broken, and nothing has been repaired or altered. It is entirely untouched, original, and "righteous".

Dr. Sill can be found in the census within Columbia, owned the Telegraph Newspaper in Columbia early in the 1850's, which he soon sold as he proved not to be a great newspaper businessman, and then pursued his medicine chest business. Dr. Thomas Palmer enlisted on the 13th of July, 1861, and was appointed as Surgeon/Doctor to the 2nd Florida Infantry, later promoted to Chief Surgeon of Hospital Number 11 in Richmond from mid-1862 until the end of the war. This is the chest he owned prior to the war, used during the war, and brought home after the war. From there, the kit was passed on to his brother, Dr. Dabney Palmer, who founded the cough syrup compound 666. The cough syrup was first produced by the Monticello Drug Co. and is still produced this day out of Jacksonville, Fla. The kit was kept by the Palmer family, until acquired directly from the Palmer family of Monticello by the Affiliated Auction group, holding the auction last year in Tallahassee, Florida.

This is an incredible, museum-quality ID'ed Confederate surgeon's medical/apothecary set, being a gorgeous ID'ed pre-war Columbia maker-marked set to begin with. Every Doctor had to have one of these. Virtually none survive today intact. This set offered to you here help treat thousands of wounded and dying Confederate for 4 long years of war. The appraised value last year was $3000 to $4000.

We toyed with the idea of keeping it. My wife said, "Well, if nobody buys it at this price, we'll just keep it..."

Nice Original Pre-War Militia or Early War Leather "Hard-Pack" Used By Soldiers North & South

A nice, representative example of the classic "hard-pack" backpack, greatly utilized by all pre-war militia units, and still wore into the War by both sides. This one has a large "22" designation painted on the back. Overall dimensions are 15" by 13.75" by 4.25". The inside of these "hard-packs" was "hard" due to the wooden framing utilized to give it shape and structure. One of the original shoulder straps is intact, and the 2nd one is mostly missing. The flap opens-up nicely and easily to allow one into the inside of the pack. This would make a fantastic display item for any war-themed collection.