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CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION "ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD" HEADQUARTERS AND POLITICAL BANNER

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION  ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD  HEADQUARTERS AND POLITICAL BANNER
IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION “ANGEL OF THE BATTLEFIELD" HEADQUARTERS AND POLITICAL BANNER The entire body of the decorative hanging measures 55" x 93" with a swallow tail at the bottom. Fabricated of painted silks, cotton and decorative braiding. The banner’s back ground are two painted furling American flags with cantons at the top and flowing stripes throughout the body of the banner. At the top within ribbands are the words “FIELD HOSPITAL" centered by a blue 3rd Division 6th Corps badge and “US/SC" United States Sanitary Commission) in divided panels flanking the corps badge. Directly below is large letters is the motto: “WIDE AWAKE" a popular Lincolnesque political party motto. All contained within the reaches of a large and decorative laurel leaf wreath having a painted vignette within. The central figure of the banner is a large circle surmounted by a banner carrying the words “THE UNION: It must and shall be preserved" Within the outer ring of the circle is “U.S. Army Medical Bureau/U.S.S.C./Appointee C. Aigner, M.D." Dr. Godfrey Aigner was appointed to the Department of Missouri to be the eyes and ears of the U.S. Sanitary Commission for President Lincoln. This banner may have very well been made as a presentation to Dr. Aigner or on the occasion of his appointment. Within the large circle and within a shield shaped panel is a handsomely painted depiction of the “Angel of the Battlefield" This allegorical figure, with outspread wings and a red cross on her breast, hovers over a battlefield with wounded and dying soldiers upon it. Directly below is an internal inscription “United States Sanitary Commission June 9th 1861" A large “HQ" is applied near the bottom of the banner on either side of a spread winged eagle which perches atop the peak in the swallow tail end of the hanging. In each corner flanking the bottom is a coiled snake. Both termini are decorated with a gilt cloth tassel. Across the face of the banner at various places are applied gilt metal stars. A printed history of the banner by Dr. P.V. Dredge accompanies from its former home The Barnet Museum Wood Street, Chipping Barnet, UK). From the early collection of Chaplain Erasmus Jones late Chaplain of the 21st U.S.C.T.) this banner has been in a museum collection in England from the 1930’s to the 1950’s and another very famous banner from the Chaplain E. Jones collection relating to the emancipation proclamation was just sold for a record price. CONDITION: Very good. Colors are good and the fabric is strong. Some minor fraying and discoloration to painted surfaces and dyes in fabrics. Leather tabs are dry but intact. We are told the banner was conserved in the 1930’s and 1950’s and again recently. There is a varnish like material on the surface of the banner for protection. 4-50009 CW