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LOT 3091
Historic Documented Spanish-American War Model
1852 Naval Officer’s Presentation Sword and Silver
Scabbard Inscribed to Captain Robley D. “Fighting
Bob” Evans by the Crew of the Battleship Iowa - The 30 inch blade
has floral, patriotic, and naval etching on the sides and spine with gilt backgrounds that includes “U.S.N.” and “SHANNON./MILLER./* CRANE./ NEW YORK” on the left and “Robley D. Evans.” on the right. The gilt hilt
has a “sea horse” and pierced scroll pattern guard, sea serpent finial,
anchor and stars on the top of the pommel, a patriotic eagle and
shield design on the pommel end, and a gilt wire and white shagreen
grip. The scabbard has gilt fittings and a silvered body with engraved scroll, patriotic, and naval themed engraving between the drag and
lower suspension band, Wyvern on the drag, floral and shell designs,
“USN” monogram on the lower suspension band, and a fouled anchor
on the upper band. A gilt sword knot is tied to the hilt. The silver body
of the scabbard is inscribed “PRESENTED TO/CAPTAIN ROBLEY D. EVANS, U.S.N./by the crew of the BATTLESHIP/IOWA” between the suspension bands. The back side has “TO OUR HERO/TOO JUST TO TAKE A FALLEN FOE’S/WE GIVE THIS SWORD INSTEAD.” The included framed letter from February 14, 1899, addressed from the “U.S.S. IOWA, First Rate” at San Francisco states: “Sir:- The members of this ship’s company who had the high honor of serving you from San Juan to Santiago, beg leave to present this sword as a token of our affection and reverence. It had been our intention to make this presentation when you relinquished command, but owing to the disintegration of the crew following our arrival at New York in August last, and our hurried departure, it was not done. Coming at this late
70 day, it will show you, sir, that this action is not from momentary impulse,
but that the affection and respect of this crew for you is deep-rooted and lasting; and that the men of the battleship ‘IOWA’ will ever cherish the memory of their beloved commander. And with this sword we send our wishes for your health and happiness always. It is an assurance from us that you are more than a hero to a nation, you are a hero to your men.” A July 12, 1980, bill of sale indicates this sword and the Civil War veterans presentation sword also in the auction were sold by W.L. Kallos and Carol R. Kallos to Joseph Florest. William L. Kallos (d. 2003) was a noted collector and dealer from Illinois. A stereo card from Underwood & Underwood labeled“The Battleship‘Iowa,’‘Fighting Bob’Evans, Captain/Copyright 1898 by Strohmeyer & Wyman.” is also included. Documentation relating to Florest’s research on this sword and the other in the sale are in the Evans memorbilia lot in this sale.
Rear Admiral Robley Dunglison Evans (1846-1912) of Virginia had a long U.S. Navy military career stretching back to the American Civil War and ending in 1908 when he was the commander of the Great White Fleet at the beginning of their world tour. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, starting in 1860 after establishing residency in Utah and graduated early in 1863 and joined the Union war effort despite being from a southern slave owning family. His brother in fact fought for the Confederacy. In “A Sailor’s Log,” he wrote that, “no one can defend slavery as it existed in our Southern States, nor indeed in any form,”but like many southerners of the time, he also wrote that the results of slavery “were not wholly bad” and claimed “The curse of slavery was to the white race and not the black.”