CW field desk

[mlturner]

I've inherited a field desk that's packed with a large variety of objects.
I'd lIke to learn more & decide what has value. My intention is to donate the desk to our local museum.
Of course if any of it has value I'd like to know first.
Any suggestions on who or where to ask for help sorting my treasure?
Thanks.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Post your pictures on this thread and the experts will weigh in - or recommend people you can contact once they see what you have.

 

[mlturner]

Cabinet and contents

 

[mlturner]

How do I get appraisals for some of the items.? Do I need to post pictures?

 

[Gary Morgan]

How do I get appraisals for some of the items.? Do I need to post pictures?

My fast and easy way of finding a reasonable value for a book that I'm considering buying or bidding on at auction is to look online and see what the same book and edition and in roughly the same approximate condition (plus any extras, like being autographed) went for in the past. Don't just look at how much the seller is asking for it: look for how much someone actually paid for a similar item. For example, there's currently a signed copy of MacKinlay Kantor's Andersonville listed at one online auction site with an estimated value $500-$1000 with a $250 opening big, but the actual value would be well under $100, and I think I paid $20 for mine a few years ago.

If you need a more formal appraisal, like what was the value if you donated it to a museum and want to write it off as a charitable donation, a lot of auction houses also run appraisal services. I'd seek out one of the bigger auction houses rather than a small, local one. Maybe grab the name of a militaria expert from Antiques Roadshow and contact him or her if you want to make sure that they're reliable. (I've actually brought some of my CW Prison memoirs to the Antiques Roadshow for appraisals, but they've already recorded all of their shows for the year. They usually post their list of where they'll be in late January and open up a lottery for tickets to attend at that point, which can be great fun).

 

[Trooper "D"]

Cabinet and contents

View attachment 557835

View attachment 557836

You need to pull out everything individually to even see what is there. Keep a written log and describe things a best you can so you have an inventory of everything before attempting appraisals. Posting pics on CWT as you get blocks of items catalogued might work also. 10 items at once probably would work while you keep at its with the items. And even the desk.

 

[mlturner]

You need to pull out everything individually to even see what is there. Keep a written log and describe things a best you can so you have an inventory of everything before attempting appraisals. Posting pics on CWT as you get blocks of items catalogued might work also. 10 items at once probably would work while you keep at its with the items. And even the desk.

 

[mlturner]

A few pictures of contents

 

[mlturner]

View attachment 560025

 

[mlturner]

One more

 

[mlturner]

Any idea on what this was for?

 

[JOHN42768]

Fife guessing 75-100 dollars. Bullet mold

 

[mlturner]

Thanks! How about this?

 

[mlturner]

I also have this book.

 

[JOHN42768]

Powder horn. Goggle the book title and author, it might tell you more

 

[mlturner]

Powder horn. Goggle the book title and author, it might tell you more

Thanks

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Possibly some related information in the links below:

https://ia801601.us.archive.org/5/items/recordofninetyfo00unit/recordofninetyfo00unit.pdf

Thank you for welcoming me to your group | Researching Civil War Records & Ancestry

In searching for my Civil War Veteran gggrandfather, I stumbled onto your site and was intrigued with all the information. I have much to learn about this War of the Rebellion, so hope to find some answers from all of you. My interest at this time is learning more of the regiments my ancestor...

civilwartalk.com

 

[Trooper "D"]

Thanks! How about this?

View attachment 560334

View attachment 560335

You never know offhand with something like that. It could be worth quite a bit with provenience or it could be homemade within the last 50 years.

 

[mlturner]

You never know offhand with something like that. It could be worth quite a bit with provenience or it could be homemade within the last 50 years.

I have provenance. Lots of it. I'm thinking of donating to a museum.

 

[Trooper "D"]

I have provenance. Lots of it. I'm thinking of donating to a museum.

Seems like you have a rare find on your hand. Museum would be a good choice. You know, you can have it on loan to a museum and still maintain ownership rights for your kinfolk after you kick the bucket.