LOT #72305 |
Sold on Jun 29, 2008 for: Not Sold
Elegant Civil War Presentation Sword and Scabbard to Major General John F. Reynolds, Distinguished and Gallant Union Army Gene... (Total: 2 Items)
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
Among the most significant presentation inscribed swords from the legendary Philip Medicus Collection of American Swords.
Elegant Civil War Presentation Sword and Scabbard to Major General John F. Reynolds, Distinguished and Gallant Union Army General, Whose Death is Closely Associated with the Battle of Gettysburg. The impressive pedigree accompanying this historic piece identifies and records it as considered among the most significant presentation inscribed swords of the famous collection of 800 American swords formed by the late Philip Medicus of New York City in the 1930s-1940s; a collection that to this day has never been equaled. Verification of that background is provided in the accompanying documents.The massive brass "Statuary Hilt" has its entire sculptured brass grip cast in the form of the full standing draped female figure of American Liberty, holding a wreath in her right hand. The immense-sized, matching half-basket shaped guard is entirely sculptured in high relief floral motifs with an impressive, large American eagle with shield adorning its center; a smaller relief oval wreath and letters "US" at mid-point of knuckle bow. The 31-inch slightly curved, single edge blade is in excellent to mint condition, with profuse, fine quality, etched motifs on both sides: the obverse displaying a large, open-winged eagle and shield; a second shield with "US"; and a liberty cap mounted on halberd, surrounded by a cluster of stars. The base of blade marked in a panel: "W. H. HORSTMANN & SONS / PHILADELPHIA." The reverse of the blade is similarly decorated with engraved with floral scrolls, panoply of flags and military trophies and a large center panel with script "U.S." Etching is perfect and sharp; considerable traces of original gilt wash finish very evident. Accompanied by its original iron sheath (exc.); heavily ornamented with high relief brass overlays; the wide, fancy openwork center mount filling almost half its length and a notable brass lower mount. Upper mount is exceptional, depicting two female figures supporting an oval center plaque inscribed: "Presented To Brig. General John F. Reynolds By The Officers Of First Brigade Penna. Vol. Sept. 8, 1861."
General Reynolds (born Lancaster, PA 1820) achieved a career ranked among the most illustrious in the U.S. Army. Graduating from West Point in 1841, he served in Florida and subsequently in the military occupation of Texas in 1846 and then the Mexican War 1846-48, for which he was brevetted captain for gallantry at the Battle of Monterey and again brevetted major for gallantry at the Battle of Buena Vista Feb., 1847. Between wars he served in the West on important expeditions and Indian battles and in 1860 he was appointed Commandant of Cadets at West Point Military Academy. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was immediately appointed Lieut.-Col. May 14, 1861 and just three months later August 20, 1861 he was appointed BRIGADIER GENERAL OF U.S. VOLUNTEERS. It is important to note that on September 8, 1861 (the exact date that appears on this sword), Reynolds took command of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps Brigade, which was then stationed on combat duty, defending the Union lines before Washington, D.C. and subsequently actively engaged in the Peninsular campaign killed while in command of his 1st Corps at the opening of the BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG ON JULY 1, 1863. (All this and much, much more is superbly described in detail in the Biographical Register of Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy by Gen'l G. W. Collum; 1891. (Copies of that bio and more from other important sources are included with the documents accompanying this historical sword). A monument erected to Reynolds memory stands today on the exact spot where he fell on the Gettysburg battlefield. He remained with the Pennsylvania Brigade through other actions until September, 1862 when placed in command of all Pennsylvania volunteer militia outfits and promoted major general and assigned to command the First Corps, Army of the Potomac.
An observation about the statutory hilt on this sword: It's intriguing when looking through the Civil War (1864) catalog of the famous Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York, that among the group of elegant, fancy presentation engraved swords is illustrated one with the identical grip (i.e. standing draped female figure of liberty holding a wreath in her right hand) that appears on this Gen'l Reynolds sword, photostat of that illustration is included for comparison.
Pedigree Of This General Reynolds Sword: The sword was a key item of the widely recognized, most famous collection of American swords ever formed (approximately 800 of them). Assembled by Mr. Philip Medicus of New York City; among the very first to recognize the importance of American swords in an era when the collecting of antique American arms was in its infancy. Philip Medicus began his collection during the 1930's; pursuing that field through his lifetime until his death in the late 1940's. The collection was then offered for sale in its entirety, but there were no takers in the immediate following years; American swords were yet to achieve a wide following at that time. In 1955 the vast collection was purchased in its entirety by well known antique arms dealer Norman Flayderman (at that time residing and operating his business in Maine). The importance of the collection was immediately recognized in LIFE Magazine whose editors dispatched a reporter and photographer to Maine to photograph and report on it. Subsequently, the LIFE issue of May 14, 1956 gave the collection due recognition in a full page spread and close-up illustrations of the three most famous swords in that collection, which included a photograph of this exact presentation sword to General Reynolds. (The original issue of the magazine is enclosed.)
Simultaneously, the national news media picked up the story of Mr. Flayderman's acquisition of the famous collection and articles about it appeared in various newspapers throughout the country as well.
The most popular, widely read periodical for men in those years of the 1950s was True Magazine (a Fawcett publication). They also picked up the story of the sword collection and it became the cover illustration and feature article in their August 1958 issue! The four most famous swords of the collection were pictured on the cover; among them was the General Reynolds sword (see photostats enclosed). A second, close-up photograph of it also was used in the lengthy, article inside entitled "BLADES OF GLORY."
The Earliest Cataloging Of The Gen'l Reynolds Sword: A photograph and description of this sword was prominently featured in the 1949 catalog of Francis Bannerman Sons of Broadway, New York City, the first and most famous of all the earliest dealers in antique military goods commencing business in 1865, their first catalog issued in the 1880's. Bannerman did not own (of offer for sale) the sword, they merely used it to add attraction to that 1949 catalog with proper credit given to Mr. Philip Medicus and his collection. (photostats of the catalog and cover also enclosed with the documents).
In the 1998 book American Swords From The Philip Medicus Collection (edited by Stuart Mowbray) which features almost the entire collection of Medicus swords (photographed in 1956 immediately after the acquisition). This Reynolds sword is seen illustrated in large, close detail.
Another widely respected work Steel Canvas: The Art Of American Arms by R. L. Wilson with Foreword by Chairman of Tiffany & Co., N.Y. (Random House, 1995). Devoted entirely to the most artistic and important antique American arms, the book garnered great press reviews. A fine color photograph of five important, fancy presentation American Civil War swords (page 344) includes this exact General Reynolds sword. (Color photostats enclosed here also).
Auction Info
2008 June Signature Civil War Auction #6002 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2008
29th-30th
Sunday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,402
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms