Date: Mon 19-Jun-1989

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Hesse-Galleries

Full Text:

Confederate Rifle Brings $18,700 At Hesse Galleries - lm

OTEGO, N.Y. -- It was a fight to the finish at Hesse Galleries May 9 auction

of Civil War firearms, edged weapons and related items.

Collectors and dealers battled fiercely to win the bidding war over offerings

of scarce Confederate and Union Civil War objects from the Kevin Bowles

collection. The first shots fired against an 1840 pattern cavalry saber ended

in a resounding $2,860 winning bid. Nothing slowed down the enthusiasm of the

sale with ensuing bids, escalating the prices.

An 1862 C.S. Richmond Confederate musket sold for $12,650 (all prices quoted

include the ten percent buyer's premium) and a super Model 1860 Colt revolver

with fluted cylinder, S/N 292, took $8,470. Next, a top flight Confederate

States Fayetteville, after a very spirited bidding, sold for $18,700.

There was no doubt that firearms were a priority among the buyers as

exemplified by the following: Lindsay musket, $4,620; first model Maynard,

$3,690; second model Maynard, $2,200; Burnside, $2,860; 1863 Sharps, $4,950;

1855 Springfield, $3,520; and a Spencer carbine, $2,860.

In addition to firearms, the sale offered a diversified offering, which

included numerous edged weapons, accoutrements, ordinances and images. Edged

weapons brought a variety of prices such as the US Cavalry saber 1840 Dragon

Model by N.P. Ames, which sold for $2,860; Confederate D guard, $4,400;

Confederate Naval cutlass, $990; and a Confederate sword, Froelich style,

$3,960.

Related accessories also did well. For a state of Massachusetts saber belt by

E Gaylord, Mass., $3,410 was paid. A fine 1858 McClennan saddle brought

$4,070. Civil War era playing cards fetched $715; a stamped "Baker N.Y.

McKenney" SNY cartridge box sold for $962.50; a bayonet for a Sharps rifle

brought $605; a very nice Shako hat with box sold for $1,540; and a kepi

brought $770.

Of particular interest to buyers was an exceptional tin cannon canister

complete with wooden plug and filled with grapeshot. It sold for a resounding

$1,485. A scarce original Lincoln funeral invitation brought $1,045. Also

scarce and selling for $577.50 was a super 1860 Lincoln campaign token.

Buyers from all over the United States competed with absentee and phone

bidders, some as far away as Hawaii.

The next Civil War/military, historic and pre-historic Indian artifact auction

is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, October 10. For information, call

800/401-6884.