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LOT 3253
Historic Early Civil War Presentation U.S. Model 1840 Medical Staff Sword and Scabbard Presentation Inscribed to M.F. Linquist, M.D. on September 8th, 1861 - NSN. The 29 3/4 inch straight blade has floral etching, “United States Medical Staff ” on the obverse, and a motif based on the Great Seal of the U.S. on the reverse. The gilt brass hilt has “MS” for Medical Staff in silver on the obverse languet along with floral patterns and an eagle. The brass scabbard has oak, laurel, and star designs and is inscribed on the reverse between the suspension bands with “Presented/TO/M.F. Linguist, M.D./by his personal friends/as a token of regard” followed by “Sept 8th 1861” vertically and “R.S. Dunham/G.W. Dunham/J.H. Embree./S.S. Wandell./E.C. Serviss./N.O. Benjamin.” with “Committee” to the side. Included research indicates that Dr. Maurice F. Linquist was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, and graduated from the medical university in Brussels and immigrated to the United States in the 1840s and served in the Mexican-American War and then was a surgeon during the American Civil War. He lived in New York and moved to New Haven, Connecticut, after the Civil War. He appears to have served in the Navy Medical Corps, including on the USS Powhatan, and he also made multiple trips to Cuba from New York on commercial vessels. The presenters are identified in the research as businessmen from New York City and Washington, D.C., with Nathan O. Benjamin, the last name among the presenters, identified as having a business at 424 Broadway manufacturing and selling swords and other military goods. Given this, he was likely the one who acquired the sword for the presentation. CONDITION: Fine overall. Aside from a patch of mild oxidation staining on the lower obverse side of the blade, the blade is bright and has distinct etching. The hilt has crisp designs, aged patina, and bright gilding in the protected areas. The scabbard has distinct inscriptions and designs, aged patina, and minor wear. Overall, a very attractive and interesting Civil War presentation sword. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3254
Exceptional Eagle Head Pommel Officer’s Saber and Scabbard Attributed to Corporal George W. Strong of the 38th Iowa Volunteer Infantry - Included family documentation attributed this sword to George Washington Strong (1839-1916) who served as a corporal in the 38th Iowa Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Documentation relating to Strong and his family accompany the sword, including a framed certification of his military service listing him as a 23 year old originally from Michigan who enlisted on August 20, 1862, in Company C of the 38th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and as mustering in on November 4, 1862. He was promoted to 8th corporal at that time and promoted to 3rd Corporal on October 1, 1863, and then 2nd corporal on May 16, 1864. He transferred to Company 6 when the 34th and 38th were consolidated on January 1, 1865 as a 7th corporal and was promoted to sixth corporal on March 20, 1865. He mustered out on August 15, 1865, in Houston, Texas, returned to farm in Iowa, moved to Faribault, Minnesota, and then homesteaded in North Dakota by 1886. He is buried in the cemetery in Velva, McHenry County, North Dakota, U.S.A. This saber dates to the first half of the 19th century. Eagle head officers swords like this saber were popular with American officers in the first half of the 19th century and were more common during the Mexican-American War than the Civil War though some certainly continued to be used for formal dress occasions. The 31 1/4 inch curved blade has a broad fuller, nitre blue base section with gilt floral, patriotic, and classical martial etching; “WARRANTED/A BERGER” on the right ricasso, and a flat spine. The hilt is brass and features a spread wing eagle design on the right chappe, a detailed eagle head pommel, and grooved bone grip. The sword comes in a brown leather scabbard with brass fittings. CONDITION: Extremely fine with nearly all of the bright original nitre blue and gilt finish remaining on the blade along with mostly bright forward section, minor staining and storage wear, aged patina on the hilt, and light aging of the grip. The scabbard is fine and has mild wear overall and some dents on the fittings. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3255 Strong Firearms Company Miniature Cannon with Carriage - Brass signal cannon marked “STRONG F.A. CO./NEW HAVEN. CT.” The breach pulls back and rotates to load. The cannon is mounted in an unmarked wrought iron carriage. CONDITION: Very fine with an attractively aged patina on the brass with some scattered dings. The carriage is fine with some remaining enamel with surface oxidation and pitting. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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