One of the finest Civil War collections ever offered, Nov. 20-21, in Gettysburg

One of the finest Civil War collections ever offered, Nov. 20-21, in Gettysburg

World famous collection of broadcaster John Henry Kurtz includes rare flags, important uniforms from The War Between The States

DALLAS, TX - Most collectors are identified by what they collect. Every once in a while, though, a collector comes along that transcends their hobby and changes the arrangement, making it instead that the hobby itself is identified by the collector themselves. John Henry Kurtz was such a man, and his unparalleled, massive collection of Civil War artifacts has long been considered one of the most important groupings in the category. When Kurtz, a well-known actor and the voice of the NBC Nightly News, passed away in March of this year, he left behind not only a legacy of being an impeccable gentleman, but also one of the most passionate and knowledgeable collectors the genre has ever known.

This Nov. 20-21, Heritage Auction Galleries will have the distinct and sincere honor of auctioning off the Kurtz Collection of Civil War Memorabilia as part of its Signature Civil War Auction, taking place at the Eisenhower Hotel & Resort in Gettysburg, PA, the site of the most famous, and decisive, Civil War battle of them all.

"The American Civil War was clearly the defining moment in this nation's history," said Dennis Lowe, Director of Civil War Auctions for Heritage. "The cataclysmic blood-letting it represented finally forged the individual states into one nation. This was the last war in American history that interwove the horror and tragedy of the battlefield with an aura of romance, chivalry and bravado. The Kurtz Collection has gathered the very essence of the conflict together, making it one of the finest Civil War collections extant."

Kurtz, or John Henry as he was known to most everyone, was a fiercely dedicated collector for more than 40 years. He used his success over the last 20 years to combine a degree of affluence with his superior knowledge and superb taste to form his unrivaled collection. His interest lay primarily in the arms, uniforms, equipment and photographs of Union combat infantrymen. As a result, the grouping of uniforms in the collection is the most comprehensive and important ever offered to historical collectors.

"The highlights of this auction are myriad, with the Kurtz collection representing the most important presentation of Civil War artifacts in modern history," said Lowe. "It will be many years in the future before a commensurate presentation is again seen in the market place."

The massive, detailed full-color glossy catalog for the auction is already being hailed as a watermark in the genre and will remain an important and frequently referenced resource for collectors and scholars alike for some time to come.

The general Civil War session includes the personal battle flag of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, the Confederate battle flag of the 37th Mississippi Infantry, estimated at $35,000-$45,000, and the Left General Guide Flag of the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Baxter's Philadelphia Fire Zouaves. This is the flag carried by this gallant regiment from Chancellorsville to Weldon Railroad, including at Gettysburg at the repulse of Pickett's charge. This is the only standard that is known to have survived from that momentous action, many of the others having been cut up and distributed as souvenirs when the Army of the Potomac was restructured after Gettysburg in July 1863. It is certainly one of the most compelling relics of the American Civil War. It carries an estimate of $55,000 - $65,000.

Also among the top offerings, and certainly a lot expected generate intense interest is an exceptionally rare and historic uniform of Famed Birney's Zouaves. The amazing jacket, vest and trousers grouping belonged to Corporal William Stephens of Co. I, 23rd Pa. Vol. Infantry. The open, dark blue jacket is trimmed on the edges, down the front, on the seams and cuffs in bright red cord, with decorative loops on the chest. The front is closed by a simple brass eagle button that fastens through a decorative loop of red trim. On each sleeve are affixed two large, ribbed, red wool stripes denoting Stephens' rank. Birney's Zouaves spent most of its service with the VI Corps and played especially pivotal roles at Fredericksburg in May 1863 and Gettysburg later that year. Not long after beginning active duty in the field, the regiment found their colorful uniforms to be impractical and slowly changed to Federal issue garb. This is the most complete Birney's Zouaves uniform known to exist. It carries an estimate of $85,000 - $95,000.

To see additional items from the Kurtz Civil War Collection, go online to www.ha.com/6015.

To discuss consigning Civil War material to an upcoming auction at Heritage, call Dennis Lowe at (800) 872-8467 x 1182, or email to DennisL@HA.com.

Heritage is the world's third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales of more than $700 million, and 400,000+ registered online bidder members.