CampSite Artifacts  ·

Here is a Super Neat Little Pair of Civil War or Pre-War Cavalry Boots, once worn by a 10^th Michigan Cavalry Bugler ! The soldier was Andrew Davis of Co. C who enlisted October 23^rd, 1863. Evidently he donated them to be displayed in his local GAR Post after the war, as the old tag accompanying them says they were from a GAR Hall. They show evidence of Gold Paint embellishment around the toes and edges of the sole that likely confirm that Grand Army Display. However, they are very small and I really think they may have been his boots before the war when still a very young man. They are doubtlessly of the period though.

Both boots are in excellent condition to be as old as they are and show no serious damage. The vertical seam on the right side of the left boot is split about ¾ of an inch down from the top, and there is a tiny tear about ¼ of an inch long at the top of the back. The right boot has a vertical tear at the top of the back about ¾ of an inch long. The boots measure about 9.5 inches tall by 6.5 inches long. The soles are still nicely intact and show the method of their attachment very well. Just a Super Neat Little Pair of Civil War Period Cavalry Boots, quite likely for a Very Young Man ! [L.L.]

        $450   Reduced   $350 plus shipping

Here is a Fine Pair of Civil War Period Leather Boots ! These would have been perfect for an officer or a cavalryman. They are square toed, with stacked heels hobnailed with square nails, and wood pegged soles. The leather is amazingly supple with little damage, other than the outer pull on the left boot is broken. They have a tan, perhaps once almost red, front decorative upper on each boot, and what appears to be an old repair on the lower outside seam of the right boot. They measure 14.5 inches tall with soles that are about 11 inches long. Just a Super Nice Pair of Civil War Period Boots that any Trooper or Civilian would have loved to have ! [ L.L. ]    PS. I have a wonderful pair of large white period wool socks, I can throw in with the boots for $50 extra, if desired.

           $475   NOW JUST   $400 plus shipping

Here is a Nice Civil War Period Rosewood Traveling Inkwell ! It is still in Excellent Condition, despite one vertical crack in the body, and three in the screw on lid. These are tiny, measuring just 2.25 inches tall, by 1.125 inches in diameter. The glass bottle inside is still intact in good condition, with an obvious little cut in the lip, intended to be where you would pour the ink. These used to be fairly common, but are getting hard to find now. A Nice Little Civil War Period Traveling Inkwell !

        $55   NOW REDUCED   $40 Plus shipping

Here is a Fine Civil War Period or Earlier, Maker Marked, Spring Loaded Lancet or Bleeder ! It has a brass case, with iron or steel blade, and the spring is still good, though stout and hard to cock. The backside of the case is marked with a relief mark of, “J. S. Bird.” The entire piece measures about 4.25 inches long from the bottom of the case to the top of the blade, and is about 1 inch wide, by .25 of an inch thick. The actual cutting part of the blade is almost half an inch long, and I sure would not want to be a patient of the doctor who intended using this on me ! A Fine Displaying Civil War Period Spring Loaded Bleeder ! [ L.L. ]

           $295    NOW JUST   $250  plus shipping

Here is an Excellent Condition New York Militia Cartridge Box & Sling ! Likely dating to the 1870s-1880’s, it has a wood block cut for twenty cartridges, too small for a .56-56 Spencer Cartridge, but almost too large for a .45-70. I wonder if it wasn’t intended for either the post-war .50 caliber Spencer cartridges, or even the .50-70 of some of the Trapdoor Springfields. There is a box plate on the flap consisting of an entwined stamped brass NY monogram, with solder fill, and both ends of the white cotton sling appear to be attached to the box with Civil War period eagle -I Infantry coat buttons. The sling shows the typical staining, but nothing major and no tears. The ends of it at the box have been reinforced with sewn on leather tabs, likely to prevent fraying. Just a Very Fine, likely immediate Post War New York Militia Cartridge Box, that displays Great ! [ L.L. ]

        $475   NOW JUST   $350  plus shipping

Here is a Fine Non-Regulation ca. 1850 to 1870’s Militia Cartridge Box ! It is on a white cotton sling or cross belt that is showing its age and dark toning more than my pictures show. The sling is attached to the box by two dime sized brass studs on the reverse. The box itself shows no evidence of ever having any adornment on the flap, and measures about 7.125 inches across the flap, 6.5 inches across the body, by 4 inches tall. There is a block of wood inside that has never been cut, with a name on it, that is likely a previous contemporary owner. It appears to read, “Thomas Pickens – Dickerson”. The leather is in good condition, showing only minor crazing. One end of the strap the sling passes through, is partially torn, but still intact. The closure strap is still nicely intact as is the brass finial. The box displays great. A Fine Civil War Period Non-Regulation Militia Cartridge Box & Cross Belt ! [ L.L. ]

        $300   Reduced  $200 plus shipping

Here is a Beautiful Pair of Non-Excavated Civil War Period Brass Shoulder Scales ! Both are nicely intact, tight, and complete, except for the attachment tabs that would have been sewn onto the coat or jacket. Looks like they may have been cleaned at some point in the past, but are now starting to acquire a nice mellow patina, with one or two small spots of green verdigris. The reverse shows iron or tin backing plates are also showing some surface rusting, but still tight and well attached, as are the brass support tabs. Originally intended to help blunt the force of a saber blow on the shoulder, these are often seen on period images of cavalry troopers and were issued in some quantity, though many times later discarded by veterans. A Beautiful Displaying Pair of Original Civil War Period Brass Shoulder Scales !

        $165 plus shipping

Here is an Excellent Original Civil War Soldiers Housewife, or Sewing Kit ! It appears to be made of a thin sewn oilcloth outer, with a thin silk interior, and is still in great condition. Completely unfolded it measures about 7.5 inches long by 4 inches wide. The top section just under the flap has one large compartment that contains a packet of “H. Milward & Sons Patent Helix Needles” made at Redditch, [ England ] and has a great yellow label with sailing ship at middle, and the date 1857, near the bottom. The inner oilcloth also has a horizontal tulip shape compartment for needles, pins, etc. The middle section shows a piece of soft cotton attached with one blued straight pin still inserted in it. The bottom section shows two large compartments and two smaller compartments, one of which contains a dark blue packet of R. J. Roberts Needles, showing a gold top and steel shaft, and faint eagle on the paper. There was nothing else in the housewife such as buttons, thread, etc., so I added a large 1851 Goodyear Patent N. R. Co. [ Novelty Rubber Co. ] button, and two period correct civilian or flat buttons. You could easily find a correct thread to add to it if desired. Just an Excellent Condition and almost “textbook” example of a Civil War Soldiers Housewife ! [ L.L. ]

                                   SOLD