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CIVIL WAR UNION CAVALRY OFFICER'S SABER BELONGING

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
CIVIL WAR UNION CAVALRY OFFICER'S SABER BELONGING

TO 1ST LIEUTENANT JOHN MOTTER ANNAN SERVING WITH COLE'S CAVALRY IN THE POTOMAC HOME BRIGADE WITH PHOTOGRAPHS.
1) SWORD. Overall length: 39". Blade length: 31 5/8". This exceptionally fine condition cavalry officer's saber belonged to 1st Lieutenant John Annan who was with Cole's Cavalry of the Potomac Home Brigade, otherwise known as Company C of the 1st Maryland Cavalry Battalion. Lt. Annan was born early in 1841 in Emmittsburg, Maryland and at the start of the war, he was a student at Lafayette College. He enlisted on August 28, 1861 and was appointed 1st Lieutenant upon his enlistment. Tragically, he was killed at Frederick, Maryland on November 14 of the same year when he was accidently shot through the head with a Sharp's carbine by Private Mehring of his own company. The sword has a single wide fuller with a single narrow 13" fuller just under the spine. The blade is etched over half its length with various foliate, patriotic and military motifs. An etched marking near the ricasso reads, "W.H. HORSTMANN & SONS PHILADEPHIA". The ricasso is stamped with a king's head indicating the blade was mfg. by Weyersburg of Solingen, Germany. Sword has a blue felt washer. Gilded brass hilt with leaf embellishments at the base of the branches and around the pommel. Multi-strand wire wrapped, sharkskin grip. Iron scabbard with leather hanging straps and brass belt clip. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a custom made, wooden, sword display case measuring 43" x 17" x 4". A frame used when displaying the sword that contains a copy of a photograph of Lt. Annan along with pertinent facts about his life. An envelope containing several newspaper clippings from 1861 reporting on the tragic death of young Lt. John Annan including a tribute from Lafayette College. CONDITION: blade is virtually factory new with overall original factory polish and brilliantly crisp etching. The hilt retains traces of original factory gilding. The grip is quite well executed and shows the lightest of wear. The scabbard has mostly original finish with some scattered darkened areas. Leather hangers are flexed and flaked but remain solid. Brass belt clip shows some wear with areas of original lacquer present.
2) CDV. A framed period cdv of John Annan with a small typewritten card with a short biography of the young Lieutenant. CONDITION: light wear.
3) ALBUMEN. An oval albumen photograph of John Annan before the war. The frame measures 11 1/4" x 9 1/4" and the image measures 7 1/2" x 5 1/2". It is a waist up view of Annan in gilded wood frame. CONDITION: image remains crisp. Frame has 2 significant cracks. (02-17726/BF). $3,000-4,000.