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CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION COMMEMORATIVE BANNER HONORING GEN. JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, THE 20th M

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:17,500.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 55,000.00 USD
CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION COMMEMORATIVE BANNER HONORING GEN. JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, THE 20th M
A HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR U.S. SANITARY COMMISSION COMMEMORATIVE BANNER HONORING GEN. JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, THE 20th MAINE, CAMP LETTERMAN (GETTYSBURG) AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN. One of the more important finds to come to public auction in decades is this outstanding U.S. Sanitary Commission banner related to one of the American Civil War’s most valiant and sought after regiments Col. (Gen.) Joshua Chamberlain’s 20th Maine Regiment Infantry Volunteers-heroes of Little Round Top during the Gettysburg Campaign. It also commemorates Camp Letterman established in Gettysburg to treat the thousands of wounded and dying soldiers impacted by the fierce battle in July 1863. This decorative banner is fabricated of painted silks, cotton and metallic braid with decorative and embossed leather tabs, straps and head. In various locations are custom fabricated silver and brass escutcheons, shields and stars engraved with U.S. Sanitary Commission mottos (U.S.S.C.). The leather is, generally, decorated. Large tabs are embossed with a likeness of Lincoln, others with silver stud decoration. The body of the banner measures 5’ 1/2" x 8’, significantly large and, presumably, fabricated to hang at one of the U.S.S.C.’s fairs. A decorative leather band with hanging straps is affixed across the top. Prominent on the banner is a circular panel, 28" in dia, with a painted portrait of President Abraham Lincoln imposed on top of a detailed paper map of the State of Maine. On either side are intersecting oval panels, each measuring 22" x 15", one depicting a painted bust of General George G. Meade-Union Commander at Gettysburg-and the other Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Commander of the 20th Maine Regiment and hero of Little Round Top. These portraits are surmounted by ribbands carrying the mottos: “Camp Letterman Sanitary Lodge, Soldier’s National Cemetery, Nov 19, 1863" Below the triptych is the motto: “We are Coming Father Abraham" Each top corner of the banner is decorated with applied silk laurel leaves. Two oval panels with painted vignettes flanking the center depict a young man and woman embracing and a soldier departing his wife. These are surrounded by gilt cloth braiding. A very wide ribband arching across the center of the banner has the motto “The Union Rose" worked upon it. Immediately below is the date “1863 AD" over the words of Col. Chamberlain “Stand Firm Ye Boys" and “20th Regiment Maine Infantry Volunteers" having a suspended red 1st Division, 5th Corps badge below. All of this decoration arches over the top of a large oval painted panel illustrating a female comforting a wounded officer with a wagon train in the battlefield background with “Sanitary Commission" painted upon the wagon’s canvas cover. Another wide riband below this painted panel has the motto: “Loyal East and West Brave." The bottom of the great banner has suspended tags with silvered American shields with an eagle on each “USSC" engraved and “Chalker" below (U.S.S.C.). The leather is, generally, decorated. Large tabs are embossed with a likeness of Lincoln, others with silver stud decoration. The body of the banner measures 5’ 1/2" x 8’, significantly large and, presumably, fabricated to hang at one of the U.S.S.C.’s fairs. A decorative leather band with hanging straps is affixed across the top. Prominent on the banner is a circular panel, 28" in dia, with a painted portrait of President Abraham Lincoln imposed on top of a detailed paper map of the State of Maine. On either side are intersecting oval panels, each measuring 22" x 15", one depicting a painted bust of General George G. Meade-Union Commander at Gettysburg-and the other Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, Commander of the 20th Maine Regiment and hero of Little Round Top. These portraits are surmounted by ribbands carrying the mottos: “Camp Letterman Sanitary Lodge, Soldier’s National Cemetery, Nov 19, 1863" Below the triptych is the motto: “We are Coming Father Abraham" Each top corner of the banner is decorated with applied silk laurel leaves. Two oval panels with painted vignettes flanking the center depict a young man and woman embracing and a soldier departing his wife. These are surrounded by gilt cloth braiding. A very wide ribband arching across the center of the banner has the motto “The Union Rose" worked upon it. Immediately below is the date “1863 AD" over the words of Col. Chamberlain “Stand Firm Ye Boys" and “20th Regiment Maine Infantry Volunteers" having a suspended red 1st Division, 5th Corps badge below. All of this decoration arches over the top of a large oval painted panel illustrating a female comforting a wounded officer with a wagon train in the battlefield background with “Sanitary Commission" painted upon the wagon’s canvas cover. Another wide riband below this painted panel has the motto: “Loyal East and West Brave." The bottom of the great banner has suspended tags with silvered American shields with an eagle on each “USSC" engraved and “Chalker" below Founder of the Wide Awakes during the mid-19th century and a supporter of Lincoln). A very rare survivor of the fabled U.S. Sanitary Commission which held the great “fairs" for the relief of wounded soldiers and families of the deceased. Of exceptional historical value, this particular banner depicts the personality and bravery of one of America’s greatest soldiers and heroes, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Accompanied by research and history of the banner compiled by Dr. P.V. Dredge, commissioned by the Barnet Museum, United Kingdom. From the early collection of Chaplain Erasmus Jones (late Chaplain of the 21st U.S.C.T.) this banner has been in a museum 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: Good. An item of such fragility must be considered quite good as a survivor of so many decades. Colors are generally bright with some darkening of painted areas. Tabs along the bottom are only partially intact. Leather is stiff but quite well preserved. Some fraying and separation to silk and embroidery as expected. We are told the banner was restored in the 1930’s and additional work was done most recently. Most of the surface retains a coat or coats of varnish like material for protection. 4-50008 CW