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Admiral George Dewey Pitchers

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:75.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 USD and UP
Admiral George Dewey Pitchers
Preview
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite#309
Reno, NV 89511
Thursday August22, 10am-6pm
* Preview also available by appointment

Live Auction
Friday & Saturday
August 23 & 24, 2013
9am PDT starting time, both days

Location
Atlantis Casino & Resort
Grand Ballroom #4
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89502

Lot Pick Up
Holabird-Kagin Americana Office
3555 Airway Drive Suite #309
Reno, NV 89511
Sunday August 25, 10am-1pm

c1900-Lot of two clear molded glass pitchers with handles, each measuring about 9” tall, most likely gifts commemorating Dewey’s Commission to Rear Admiral on May 1, 1898. There are embossed and incised designs around the circumferences of both pitchers. One pitcher lists ships he commanded—Olympia, McCulloch, Petrel, Concord, Raleigh, Boston, and Baltimore. The Olympia was the ship he commanded during the Battle of Manila in 1898 in the Spanish-American War. Dewey’s quote, “Gridley, you may fire when ready,” is embossed there, along with his portrait, a soldier with rifle holding an American flag, and a sailor with saber. The other pitcher features another set of commemorative scenes, as well as a picture of the Olympia. George Dewey (1837-1917) was the only officer of the US Navy ever to hold the rank of Admiral of the Navy, a commission created by Congress for him on March 2, 1899 that provided when such office became vacant either by death or otherwise, the office would cease to exist. He thus became the only offer of the United States Navy who was ever so commissioned. Admiral Dewey earned the Civil War Medal; the Spanish Campaign Medal; the Philippine Campaign Medal; and the Dewey Medal (commemorating the Battle of Manila Bay), as well as these two pitchers [Ref: www.history.navy.mil/bios/dewey_george.htm?]. In 1934 a destroyer, USS Dewey (DD-349) was named in his honor, and subsequently earned 13 battle stars for operations in the Pacific War Area of World War II. HKA#64650