2076

LOT OF PURPORTED CAPTURED NAVAL ARTIFACTS FROM TH

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
LOT OF PURPORTED CAPTURED NAVAL ARTIFACTS FROM TH
LOT OF PURPORTED CAPTURED NAVAL ARTIFACTS FROM THE CONFEDERATE BLOCKADE RUNNER A.D. VANCE ALONG WITH US NAVY UNIFORM, CAP, CUTLASS, AND BELT. This lot includes artifacts related to the capture of a blockade-runner by an important US naval officer, O.S. Glisson. The consignor's provenance relates this group to Capt. Oliver S. Glisson, who had a long and distinguished career in the United States Navy. He became a midshipman on November 1, 1826, a passed midshipman on April 28, 1832. In 1837, he reached the rank of Lieutenant and by September, 1855; commander. The outbreak of the Civil War, he was promoted to Captain in July of 1862, during which time he commanded the ship Santiago de Cuba. At war's end, he was prompted to commodore and by June 10, 1870 was made Rear Admiral, retiring in 1871. Glisson died on November 20, 1890. During the Civil War, he commanded the 1,568-ton side-wheel steam ship, Santiago de Cuba. The ship was built in 1856 as a commercial steamer but was converted to a cruiser in November 1861. She served in the Gulf of Mexico, enforcing the blockade of the Confederate states and to protect American shipping. During her service, she captured the schooner Victoria. In 1862 and 1863, the ship operated in the western Atlantic, capturing more than 6 Confederate blockade-runners and cruisers. On September 10, 1864 under the command of Captain Glisson, the Santiago de Cuba captured the Confederate Steamer A.D. Vance. The ship was decommissioned after the war and returned to commercial service until about 1899. The A.D. Vance, attempting to run the union blockade in September 1864 and captured by Captain Glisson, was purchased by the United States Navy from a prize court. In October 1864, she was recommissioned as the USS Advance and took part in the assaults on Fort Fisher in December 1864 and January 1865. A number of items in this lot retain brass plaques (made and inscribed within the last 20 years), which are inscribed as follows: "captured from/the rebel blockade runner/A.D.Vance/by Captain O.S. Glisson/USS Santiago de Cuba September 10, 1864." These items include a brass ship's bell, unmarked, measuring 12" in diameter and 9" tall, made of heavy cast bell metal. CONDITION: Very good. Outside shows numerous dents and dings where the bell has been struck. Clapper is a replacement. Ship's compass in a wooden case, measuring 11-1/4" x 11-1/4" being a large brass floating compass with a printed paper face signed "Robert Merrill/New York." CONDITION: Very good. Wooden box shows heavy wear. Cased telescope, unmarked of probably English manufacturer. 4-section brass telescope with sewn leather cover and original dust cover mounted within a hinged box measuring 11-1/4" x 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" with a maroon padded velvet lining with brass bale handle mounting on top. CONDITION: Telescope is very good with some shrinkage to leather cover. Box shows heavy wear, the interior is stained and worn. Cased brass ship's octant with ebony frame and ivory insets in a walnut case built to its shape measuring approx. 13" x 13" x 14-1/2". CONDITION: Walnut case shows light to medium wear with several minor losses. Octant is quite nice with traces of old brass polish. Finally, there is, what appears to be, a cased chronometer marked "T.S. Negus & Co. New York" that while having a plaque indicating its capture from the blockade runner A.D. Vance, does not appear to be old enough. CONDITION: Excellent. Other items in the lot include a steel and German silver compass and an iron compass, both unmarked, a bound copy of the Report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey for the year ending November 1850. Also included is a US Model 1860 Naval Cutlass, scabbard, waist belt, and fuse box. The cutlass has a 26" single-edged blade with an unstopped fuller and is dated 1862 and surmounted by the stamp "USN" and the inspector's marks "DR." The hilt is of sheet brass formed into a cup and mounted on a D-guard. The counterguard is stamped "12M/312." The grip is of wood wrapped in leather. Scabbard is of leather with copper rivets. CONDITION: Sword is very good with an uncleaned patina. The last 1-1/2" of the scabbard is separated but retained with the group. Scabbard is mounted in a black buff leather frog hanging on a 2" wide buff leather belt dyed black. Fuse box measuring approx. 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" is marked "U.S.N.Y./Boston" within a somewhat rectangular cartouche. CONDITION: Frog, belt, and fuse box are all quite good. Also with the group, but apparently unrelated is a Naval officer's frock coat, dating to the post war period 1870-1890, being a double-breasted regulation style Navy dress frock coat with a 12-button front of dark blue wool. The coat is lined with black cotton twill reinforced at the armpits with two interior pockets lined in unbleached linen. Inside the right breast pocket is the label from its maker "Made by/Hackett, Carhart & Co./4001 Broadway, N.Y." This label is signed in period ink "H.E. Peck/4376." The sleeves of the coat are lined in white cotton with a thin blue stripe. The buttons on the coat are 2-pc fouled anchor buttons of brass of a commercial variety back marked "S. Appel & Co./New York." CONDITION: Very good. Minor mothing here and there, several tears have been repaired. Interior lining is good, pocket linings are fragile. The coat is accompanied by a Naval officer's cap, being of the style used during the years 1890-1920 of dark blue wool. The cap has a flat crown, having a black wool band at the base measuring 1-1/2" wide, gold chinstrap, 2 commercial brass anchor buttons. The visor is of tarred leather with an edge binding. Cap is lined in black polished cotton with a 1-1/2" wide leather sweatband. Mounted on the front of the cap is a small brass die stamped false embroidered fouled anchor. Finally there is a regulation maroon officer's sash made of silk with terminating in 2 woven tassels and dating to the period 1861-1890. CONDITION: Very good. Cap shows light mildew, fading to black band on outside. The visor is crackled and approx. 1/4 of sweatband is missing. The sash retains its strong color, the tassels slightly faded. 4-56162 (15,000-25,000)