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LOT 3166
Historic Civil War Presentation
Cane Inscribed to
Brigadier General
James L. Selfridge
- This historic Civil
War presentation
cane is inscribed to
General J.L. Selfridge.
Born in 1824, James Levan Selfridge studied law in Allentown, Pennsylvania, worked along with his father in the transportation business, and in 1857 moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he
was involved in the coal business and real estate. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Selfridge mustered into the 1st Pennsylvania Infantry on 20 April as the captain
of Company A. After
their initial three month
enlistment was up, they
became Company C of
the newly formed 46th
Pennsylvania Infantry, and
on 8 August 1861 Selfridge
was appointed lieutenant
colonel of the regiment.
The regiment was involved
in the battles of Winchester
and Cedar Mountain, suffering 48% casualties at the latter. Due
to these significant losses, the regiment didn’t participate in the Second Battle of Bull Run, but were again involved in fighting at the Battle of Antietam. At Antietam, due to casualties and promotions in the chain of command above him, Selfridge was promoted to colonel of the 46th and commanded the regiment until the Battle of Atlanta in 1864, when he was promoted to command of the brigade, a command that he held until being honorably discharged on 16 July 1865. Upon his discharge, he was brevetted for gallant service on Sherman’s South Carolina and Georgia campaign. In 1868, Selfridge was elected Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and was presented this cane by the pages of the house. He was reelected to the position until about 1873, when he returned to Philadelphia and became the proprietor of the Lehigh Hydraulic Cement Company. James Selfridge died in 1887. The gilt knob grip of the cane shows relief floral motifs and is inscribed on top “PRESENTED/TO/Gen’l J.L. Selfridge/BY/Pages H.R./1868. The sha appears to be of smooth fruit wood and was formerly tipped with a ferrule that is now absent. It measures 35 inches overall. CONDITION: Very good overall, the grip retaining most of the gilt finish with a few scattered light flakes and handling marks. The shaf is also very good with a hairline crack, some scattered light handlin marks, and the ferrule absent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3167
Historic Civil War Presentation Cane Inscribed To Colonel Lee Strickland, Commanding Officer of the 8th Maine Infantry Regiment
- This desirable Civil War presentation cane is inscribed “PRESENTED/TO/Col Lee Strickland/by the Officers of the/ Eighth Maine/Regiment as/a token of Regard”. Colonel Lee Strickland was one of the organizing officers of the 8th Maine Infantry Regiment, which was mustered into service for three year enlistment on 7 September 1861, with Strickland in command. The regiment was involved in various major engagements of the war including
the assault on Fort Pulaski, Bermuda Hundred, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg, as well as being present for Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. During the course of the war, the regiment suffered six officers and 128 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and lost four officers and 243 enlisted men by disease. The inscribed and gilt knob grip of the cane features floral motifs throughout with a smooth hardwood shaft that may be rosewood and tipped with iron. It measures 36 inches overall.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, the grip retaining most of the bright gilt finish with minimal handling evidence. The shaft has some scattered light handling marks/flaking and there is a chip absent from the iron tip. An interesting Civil War presentation piece!
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
ft
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LOT 3168
Attractive Relief Carved Bone Face and Skull Sword
Cane Inscribed to Dr. Edwin Shields - Popular for centuries beginning in the 1500s, canes reached the pinnacle of their popularity among western cultures, particularly in Western Europe and North America, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Canes became very popular among the wealthy and well respected in society, such as businessmen, lawyers, and
doctors, such as this example. The bone L-shaped grip on this example has been expertly carve with a woman’s head on the forward facing point and a skull on the rear, perhaps hinting
at the work done by the man it was inscribed to. The bottom
of the grip is lightly inscribed “Dr. Edwin Shields”. A Dr. Edwin Shields shows up in many Ohio newspapers during the early 1900s. Inside the shaft is a hidden diamond cross section blade measuring 13 1/2 inches, with decorative filed flutes on the spines. There is a small button release to withdraw the blade. The grip is joined to the shaft with a patterned gilt band and the shaft is of a knobby light wood tipped with iron and German silver.
CONDITION: Very good, the grip showing an attractively aged tone with a small chip absent from the woman’s nose and some hairline age cracks scattered throughout. The fine blade and the gold band are both bright. The otherwise fine shaft has a few scattered hairline age cracks and minimal handling evidence. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
Brigadier Genearl James L. Selfridge
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