American Historical Ephemera and Photography Online

Fragment of wood, 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 in., housed in box with modern typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III identifying the wood as coming from Ford's Theater (with no further documentation attesting to this).

[With:] 10 small samples of fabric, each approx. 1/2 x 1/2 in., including 5 blue fragments in plastic sleeve or under magnified case with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery, identifying the fabric as "Cont. Soldier Coat," or "Cont. Soldier, Rev. War," and 5 red fragments in plastic sleeve or under magnified case with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery, identifying the fabric as "British Coat, Rev. War" (with no further documentation attesting to these identifications).

[With:] 4 magnified cases, each containing a single strand of hair with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands of hair as John Brown's ("J. Brown"). -- 2 magnified cases, each containing 2 strands of hair, with inscription,, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands of hair as "AL - C" (possibly Lincoln based on notation and contents of estate similarly displayed and identified, but no further documentation attesting to this). -- Multiple strands of hair housed in a modern plastic sleeve with inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands of hair as Charles Sumner ("Chas. Sumner"), with 2 magnified cases, each containing a single strand of hair with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands as "C. Sumner, Forbes." -- Multiple strands of hair housed in a modern plastic sleeve with inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands of hair as Schuyler Colfax ("S. Colfax"), with 2 magnified cases, each containing a single strand of hair with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands as "Colfax, Forbes." -- Multiple strands of hair housed in a modern plastic bag with inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands of hair as "McIntosh," with accompanying note dated 1869 with faint penciled annotation that appears to read, "Genl. McIntosh hair (?)" with one magnified case containing strands of hair with accompanying inscription, presumably in the hand of Carroll J. Delery III, identifying the strands as "McIn." Possibly strands of hair belonging to General James McQueen McIntosh who served the Confederate army, although this cannot be confirmed based on the lack of accompanying documentation.

[With:] Multiple fragments of wood salvaged from the Merrimack (CSS Virginia) as per modern typed and handwritten labels furnished by Carroll J. Delery III. The largest fragment measuring 1 1/2 x 2 x 5 in. includes a faint period note affixed to wood, which states, "Piece of Iron Clad Merrimack." Two (2) fragments of wood, approx. 1/2 x 1/2 in., are housed under magnified cases and enclosed in displays furnished by Carroll J. Dellery III with accompanying descriptions and modern images of the Merrimack. Two (2) smaller fragments of wood are included, one housed under magnified case and identified with modern inscription as "Merrimac [sic]"

[With:] Two (2) 3 cent nickels, identified as Civil War-era. -- At least 3 fragments of Confederate notes mounted on fabric, with accompanying smaller fragments, housed in modern box with typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III that reads, "Last Flag Over Richmond." Although no further provenance accompanies the fragments, it is possible that they represent flag remnants purportedly removed from the Stars and Bars flag flying at the Confederate Capitol on 4 April 1865 as per a modern record of provenance found within the Delery Estate. The modern document stated that Methodist minister John O. Foster collected the flag relics. He was attached to the 24th Army Corps and likely preached one of the first sermons after the fall of Richmond on 4 April 1865. He was given a pass to enter Richmond between 3-4 April, and during his time in the city, Foster received a section of the massive Confederate flag that flew over the Confederate State House. In Foster's diary entry discussed in the modern description (diary not included with the lot), he describes a visit to the Confederate Treasury, stating that he was allowed to "help himself" to the bonds and Confederate notes. He took as many as possible and glued sections of the Confederate flag he was given onto the bonds and notes. Although we cannot confirm this based on the lack of period documentation, it is possible that the remnants may have been cut from the flag that once flew at the Confederate Capitol, with bank notes on the reverse side that Foster may have taken from the CSA Treasury (toning and wear to each, including some chipping, areas of loss).

[With:] 10+ minerals housed in modern box with typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III, which reads, "Blockader Nashville - resin from casks, coal from engine room." -- Two (2) large fragments of wood housed in modern box with typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III, which reads, "Blockade Runner Wood - Nashville." -- Two (2) plastic bags housed in modern box with typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III, which reads "Blockader Nashville - Burned cotton from bales on deck. -- Two (2) boxes, each 4 x 5 x 7 in., containing hundreds of brass sewing pins and ceramic buttons, accompanied by several small bags containing additional samples of the sewing pins and buttons, accompanied by descriptive cards furnished by Carroll J. Delery III, indicating that the artifacts were "manufactured in England and taken from the wreck of the CSA blockade runner named the Georgiana, which sank off the South Carolina coast in 1863 while trying to run the Federal Blockade into Charleston from Bermuda." -- Plastic bag containing hundreds of small caps, identified by descriptive card furnished by Carroll J. Delery III, as "enfield brass percussion caps manufactured in England that were discovered in the wreck of the Confederate Blockade Runner Minho."

[Also with:] 2 plastic boxes containing fabric samples, one being gauze, housed in box with modern typed label furnished by Carroll J. Delery III that reads, "Pharoah Display" (no further documentation attesting to the authenticity or use of the fabric in a display).

No further documentation or certificate of authenticity accompanies the lot. 

Condition of artifacts consistent with age and use.