Saturday, November 06, 1999
ANTIQUES and COLLECTIBLES
Relish those Civil War relics
BY IRENE AUSTIN GILLIS
Enquirer contributor
QUESTION: My grandfather has an extensive collection of items from the Civil War, drums and musical instruments and flags and campaign banners, most from Ohio regiments. The collection is in reasonable condition. Is it valuable?
ANSWER: You could be sitting on a gold mine, if the collection is in good condition. This, without doubt, is the priority of Civil War memorabilia collectors — and prices escalate beyond comparison if you have something that is in mint or near-mint condition.
There have been several startling sale prices recently for war memorabilia. For example, an excellent-condition Lincoln-Hamlin jagate ribbon sold for $9,900. Earlier this year, a superb cavalry sword with scabbard and sash owned by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest reached a staggering $250,000 at auction!
Many of the top pieces have particularly impressive provenance, having been owned by or connected to the most prestigious names of the Civil War era.
Lincoln, obviously, is the most-sought name. A signed approval by Lincoln to Stanton, his secretary of war, regarding the recruitment of black soldiers, sold at auction for $585,000 in 1996.
Many Civil War collectors are more interested in the emotive strings of history — the preservation of memories and of a family's part in shaping history. For Cincinnatians, this often includes mementos from the 5th Ohio Regiment based at Camp Dennison in what is now Symmes Township in eastern Hamilton County.
More than half of all Ohio troops that fought in the war were channeled through Camp Dennison. At the height of the war, it was turned into a general hospital with more than 2,000 beds in constant use. This figure may sound horrific, but it is minor compared to the tragic number of young Ohio men who died for the cause. Of the almost 346,000 Ohio men who went off to war, 11,237 were killed and 13,354 died of disease.
With all the movement of people and war paraphernalia through Cincinnati, it is not surprising to find personal collections from the Civil War in area homes. Certain items, particularly uniforms, medals, banners and musical instruments, have tended to become heirlooms. Usually, the condition of such pieces is so poor that they would not be able to demand large sums.
If, as you say, your grandfather's collection is in good condition, it could be extremely collectible. Drums, for example, are highly sought and can bring $3,000-$5,000.
Your grandfather should have his collection appraised, for both informational and insurance purposes. He may want to consider loaning or bequeathing the collection to an organization such as the Civil War Museum at Camp Dennison, which is dependent on such generosity to maintain and expand its exhibits.
Q. I have been collecting limited-edition teddy bears for several years and have several Steiff vintage-style bears in my collection. All of them are new, but I would like to expand into collecting antique bears. Can I do this without spending thousands?
A. Considering that you are already a teddy bear lover (and who can honestly say that they aren't?) I think that your decision is a good one. There is something almost human about teddy bears that turns collecting into a highly personal and precious pastime.
Even their history relates to our affection for the bear. It was in 1902 that Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, hero of the Spanish-American War and 26th president of the United States, made headlines for refusing to shoot a bear cub while out on a hunting expedition, claiming that it was too small and helpless. The story inspired American entrepreneur Morris Michtom to create a cuddly toy bear that he called the “Teddy.” Mr. Michtom went on to establish the first teddy bear factory in the United States.
About the same time in Germany, Richard Steiff created his first bear, which by 1907, was also being called the “Teddy.”
The finer-quality bears started their lives in Germany, but during World War I, many countries, including the United States, stopped buying them. This did little to halt the excitement for the soft toy. In fact, it forced many countries into first-time production of teddies.
Collecting teddy bears has become serious business. At the well-known Sotheby's auction house, which conducted its first teddy bear auction in 1983, good quality old bears often bring $500-$600. Prices on vintage bears made by recognized manufacturers, such as as Steiff and Farnell, can top $2,000. In 1989, a red Steiff bear owned by a Russian princess was auctioned for $12,100!
Don't panic, though. Not all old bears cost that much. Hunt around antique malls and shops, and you'll often pick up some wonderful examples for less than $100.
There are several teddy bear specialists and catalogs that can offer you advice. One is Ritchie's Auction House in Toronto. Caroline Kaiser of Ritchie's says: “The teddy bear market is an emerging market, but one that is generating real interest by the serious collector, which means that prices can be expected to dramatically rise very quickly. People are demanding the big names such as Steiff and are also looking for the very old bears.”
Ms. Kaiser recommends buying the finest quality pieces that you can afford. Missing ears and damaged fur impact the value and restoration work to these areas will not restore the original value. But replaced paw pads have less impact on a bear's collectibility.
Unusual colors and markings add to the value, as do such characteristics as glass eyes and velvet paw pads.
Experts do warn against fakes. A few signs to watch for are thickly stitched and uneven seams, unworn noses and old labels stitched on replaced paws.
Irene Austin Gillis, president of Worth & Co. in Symmes Township, is an accredited senior appraiser with American Society of Appraisers and certified member of Appraisers Association of America. Send questions and photos (they cannot be returned) to Antiques Q&A, Tempo, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202.
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