Another of those "Which Forum Does This Belong In ?" jobs. I reckon this refers to a relic, so here goes . . . . .
Yesterday I was half watching an English TV programme which revels in the title "Flog It". In context, Flog is English slang for Sell. The format of this programme is that a small team of neutral auctioneers travels the country and values artefacts which members of the public wish to sell. Then the item is put up for auction, and the valuers skill is thus tested.
Now, up came a silver Christening cup hallmarked London 1902. The engraved inscription showed that it was given by "Major Edgar Putnam to his Godson, Saunders Edgar Davis."
The cup was being sold by a descendant, because nobody in the family wanted it any more ! (I know, I know . . . . ) Both the Davis family and Putnam were transatlantic travellers, which is how they met on more than one occasion on both sides of the Pond.
Anyway, the family knew that that Putnam was a Medal of Honor winner. Google revealed that the action for which he was awarded the MoH took place at Crumps Creek, Va. on 27 May 1864, while he was serving as a sergeant with Company A, 9th New York Cavalry.
I cannot find any indication that he gained any further promotion either during the war or after, so I wonder why the Sergeant became a Major by 1902 ?
The programme was a repeat, first aired in February 2016. The hammer price was a mere £60. An auctioneer's premium would be payable, (variable, typical 10 -15%) as would a Sales tax (VAT - Value Added Tax) so the amount payable would be ca. £80/$US100.
Regrettably it is not uncommon for silver artefacts sold at auction to be melted down for sale as bullion, but there is no way of knowing what the fate of this cup was.
Has anybody any information about Putnam's military status when he commissioned the engraving in 1902?
Yesterday I was half watching an English TV programme which revels in the title "Flog It". In context, Flog is English slang for Sell. The format of this programme is that a small team of neutral auctioneers travels the country and values artefacts which members of the public wish to sell. Then the item is put up for auction, and the valuers skill is thus tested.
Now, up came a silver Christening cup hallmarked London 1902. The engraved inscription showed that it was given by "Major Edgar Putnam to his Godson, Saunders Edgar Davis."
The cup was being sold by a descendant, because nobody in the family wanted it any more ! (I know, I know . . . . ) Both the Davis family and Putnam were transatlantic travellers, which is how they met on more than one occasion on both sides of the Pond.
Anyway, the family knew that that Putnam was a Medal of Honor winner. Google revealed that the action for which he was awarded the MoH took place at Crumps Creek, Va. on 27 May 1864, while he was serving as a sergeant with Company A, 9th New York Cavalry.
I cannot find any indication that he gained any further promotion either during the war or after, so I wonder why the Sergeant became a Major by 1902 ?
The programme was a repeat, first aired in February 2016. The hammer price was a mere £60. An auctioneer's premium would be payable, (variable, typical 10 -15%) as would a Sales tax (VAT - Value Added Tax) so the amount payable would be ca. £80/$US100.
Regrettably it is not uncommon for silver artefacts sold at auction to be melted down for sale as bullion, but there is no way of knowing what the fate of this cup was.
Has anybody any information about Putnam's military status when he commissioned the engraving in 1902?