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April, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 9
QUESTIONS FOR...

The Civil War Collector Dade City & San Antonio
98
John Sexton

Meridian Ave
I found this canteen in a house clean out. The family has no history
Q. of it. I'm sure this is a piece of lead in it, and it protrudes to the DADE CITY
inside, shrapnel? A magnet does not
stick to it. What do you think? What
value might it have? 52 Clinton Ave
JS: The canteen is Confederate, made 4
of cedar wood. The lead is probably a 579
plug. The value is $1,200-$1,500 retail. 577
Caption: A Confederate 579A Ft. King Hwy. 301
Canteen $1,200-$1,500. 98
75
39

Celebrating
I seem to have an old Bowie knife stamped with “FEETHAM London” on the 20 Antiques
Q. blade. Have you ever heard of this maker? Park your car in the YEARS! on the
treeshaded city lots and MAin street

stroll among our antique ZEPHYRHILLS
Specializing
JS: This looks like a neat old "primitive" knife. 5th Ave.
in
I'm sure the stag handle was added in America and is To Tampa and collectible shops. 54 Primitives
typical of some mid-19th century knives known and
pictured in several references; Gordon Minnis’ American Enjoy our Gall Blvd.
Primitive Knives 1770-1870 is among the best texts.
The blade could have been made from a reused piece of a Primitive knife with a stag small town charms.
steel tool or something else with the maker's mark retained. handle (if original) 41 39
We see this occasionally when saw blades, files or rasps made $300 to $1,000. Peggy Capps, Proprietor
301
into knives still show a partial toolmaker’s mark. The blade grind is not reminiscent We’d love to have you! (352) 523-0999
To Tampa
of London cutlers of the late Victorian Era when many London-made knives appear. A To Plant City
quick search finds William Feetham as a London iron monger in the early 19th century, 14122 7th STREET
though I am unaware of any products he made. It is possible that this was his mark, DADE CITY, FL 33525 3
but this is only a guess. I have seen a good many "unknown" markings on primitive
and Confederate-made knives where the marks, in my opinion, were already on the
metal utilized in making the knife. Similar knives bring a very wide range of prices, AMERICAN EAGLE
but if the knife’s stag handle is original to manufacture and not more recently added,
similar unattributed knives sell for a few hundred to about $1,000 on the high side. ANTIQUES

Could you give me an appraisal for a lapel pin that reads, “43rd Virginia 14232 7th Street 1
Q. Cavalry CSA Mosbeys men.” It has two gold, crossed Colt 45s and a Dade City, FL 33523
Confederate flag on pearl. It is a small hat or lapel pin from a Mosby’s ranger handed 352-521-3361
down through the family of 2nd Sgt James Wrenn. I had a cousin 2nd Sgt. James
Wrenn and his brother Lt. Albert Wrenn, both of B Company. I also have a 6-inch OpEN 7 DAyS 11-5:30
diameter bronze Confederate Seal, and a sterling silver calling card case with half the 2 5
capitol dome. Sgt. James Wrenn’s initials are on the match safe which is also sterling AMERICAN EAGLE 3
silver. Please give me an appraisal. ANTIQUES, TOO
JS: This is an interesting shadowbox. The identity to a Mosby ranger will help it,
also. The small gold and enamel lapel pin dates to about 1890 and was for veterans Featuring Fine Antiques
of Mosby's Cavalry Corps, a famous Confederate unit. These pins are rare and once 14119 7th Street
sold for well over $1,000 uninscribed. CivilWarBadges.com, which sells badges, has Dade City, FL 33523
a recent, identical lapel pin listed that sold for $600. The Confederate seal appears 352-521-0390 DADE CITY
to be an electrotype copy made after the Civil War from the original and sold for the OpEN 10-5 MON-SAT
benefit of Confederate widows and orphans. Originally, they were in a hinged case
made of wood and paper veneer like those for hard photographs of the era. They
came in brass, silver and gold plate. The plated examples bring a premium in original Primitives to
cases. This example still has a bezel and mount for a case. If removed, you can see Mid-Century
it was a thin, fragile sheet of glass that the bezel mount protected for the last 125
years. The seal alone in today’s market will sell for $500 or more. The entire frame Art, Jewelry,
of general-line antique objects, like the sterling match safes Clocks,
and miniature image of a post-war soldier, should have a presale
estimate in auction of $800-$1,200 in my opinion. A dealer would Furniture,
probably pay $1,000 or so for this framed grouping if you took it Coins/Military
to a Civil War trade show.
Shown: A Confederate seal, $500. For the RARE, the UNUSUAL, the UNEXPECTED
Late Century Modern Furniture TOP DRAWER ANTIQUES
John Sexton is an independent appraiser Decorative Arts & Accessories 14130 7th St.
and expert of Civil War memorabilia. OPEN: Mon-Sat 10-5 & for Special Events
He is an accredited member of various 11853 Curley St, San Antonio
appraiser organizations. He can be 6 mi. from Dade City / 11 mi. from Zephyrhills 352-437-4838
contacted at www.CivilWarDealer.com. 352-588-2001 www.topdrawerantiquesfl.com
or 770-329-4984. www.facebook.com/TopDrawerAntiques
www.sanantonioantiquesflorida.com atopdrawer@tampabay.rr.com
For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, 4
email a photo and a description to Proprietor, John C. Herrmann 5
mclwriter@gmail.com. Civil War items inside a shadowbox of, $800-$1,200.