Military

410. USS Constitution Relic Bookends. Appealing pair of foundry cast bronze bookends made from metal reclaimed during the 1927 restoration of the USS Constitution. Each bookend measures 5.75˝ x 6.5˝ x 1.25˝ and features a ship’s wheel on a lead-weighted base, which reads: “This material was taken from US Frigate Constitution 1927.” The central cast medallion depicts “Old Ironsides” under full sail. In overall fine condition. Starting Bid $200

Twice-signed letter penned on stationery listing Jefferson Davis as the company president

411. Braxton Bragg Autograph Letter Signed Twice. Confederate general (1817-1876) who was relieved of field duty after his unsuccessful siege of Chattanooga. His mixed legacy as a skilled organizer but a poor commander remains one of the great topics of debate among Civil War historians. ALS signed twice, four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, Office of Carolina Life Insurance Company of Memphis, Tennessee letterhead (which lists Jefferson Davis as the company president), June 20, 1870. Handwritten letter to Dr. S. H. Stout, in part: “I have been gratified to learn that you saved the greater part of the valuable records, mostly medical, which you had made with so much labor during the war. There was no part of the organization and administration of the Army of Tennessee so satisfactory to me as that of the Medical dept. and especially of the Hospital Dept.” Braggs adds a handwritten postscript and signs again at the conclusion. In very good to fine condition, with several old tape stains to fold splits. Starting Bid $200

After “a rough & sick time getting home,” Chamberlain urges his wife to join him at camp with the 20th Maine, insisting that a “good many officer’s wives are here”

412. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Autograph Letter Signed. Civil

War-dated ALS signed “L,” one page, 8 x 12.5, February 23, 1862. Addressed from “Camp,” a handwritten letter to his wife Fanny, urging her come to the 20th Maine’s base, in part: “The Col. insists on your coming & staying some time. A good many officer’s wives are here I believe. So I want you to come as soon as you can with Dr. Monroe perhaps—or with Mr. French. You will have to have a Provost Marshal’s pass; or, rather, one from Col. Conrad.” In very good to fine condition, with paper loss to the top edge and lower left corner, and tears to both the edges and along the central horizontal fold. Accompanied by a compliments card from Chamberlain. Starting Bid $200

Rare signed portrait of the Confederate general

413. Robert E. Lee Signed Photograph. Highly desirable

2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite portrait of Robert E. Lee in uniform with three stars discernible on his collar, boldly signed in ink, “R. E. Lee.” Published by The ‘Lee’ Photographic Gallery of Richmond, Virginia. In very good to fine condition, with light overall soiling, scattered small spots, and some skipping to the signature. Starting Bid $500

Rare twice-signed photograph of a raid by ‘The Grey Ghost,’ Col. John S. Mosby

415. John S. Mosby Signed Photograph. Rare 6.5 x 3.75 albumen photo of an artist’s rendition of Mosby’s Rangers crossing Snickers Gap, affixed to its original 9.5 x 5.5 mount, captioned on the mount in ink by Mosby, “Mosby’s battalion crossing at Snicker’s Gap Va., Aug: 12th 1864,” and signed on the reverse by Mosby as part of a list of his officers, “Colonel John S. Mosby, Lieutenant Chas. E. Grogan, Captain Sam Chapman, Captain J. W. Foster.” In very good to fine condition, with trimming to the edges of the mount. Starting Bid $500

416. Eddie Rickenbacker 1918 Ring. World War I-dated gold ring belonging to legendary fighter ace Eddie Rickenbacker, size 10, with a purple gem to top flanked by golden United States Army Air Service ‘Prop and Wings’ emblems to shoulders; the inner band is engraved: “1918, Capt. E. V. Rickenbacker.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200

Napoleon Bonaparte pens six pages on troop strengths, focusing on the Oudinot’s Corps of Grenadiers d’Elite

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417. Napoleon Handwritten Notes on Military Organization. Unsigned handwritten notes by Napoleon Bonaparte

concerning the organization of the Corps of Grenadiers d’Elite of General Oudinot, six pages on five sheets, 8 x 12.25, circa September 1809. Napoleon’s notes primarily consist of numerical annotations and computations related to the strength of his troops, with a descriptive passage on the first page in. Bonaparte writes, in part (translated): “There are 46 regiments, we will return 2 of them, we will remove 1, leaving 43 regiments. 5 companies are missing to make 8 regiments…as the elite regiment must only have 4 companies per battalion, it will only take 42 companies for 7 battalions of Grenadiers.” In fine condition. A unique and significant military manuscript from the hand of the revered strategist. Starting Bid $1000