Around 1,700 lots of rare militaria items will be sold by Mohawk Arms, June 1-2 A button from George Washington’s inauguration, an American War of 1812 chapeau, part of a flag flown at the Battle of Gettysburg and books from Adolf Hitler’s library will all be auctioned June 1-2.
News-Antique.com - May 09,2012 - (BOUCKVILLE, N.Y.) – An actual button from George Washington’s inauguration, an American War of 1812 chapeau (hat), part of a flag flown at the Battle of Gettysburg, a group of books from Adolf Hitler’s library seized by an American Major in the final days of World War II and silverware from one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces are some of the items to be sold June 1-2.
They are part of a broad and sweeping militaria auction (titled ‘Auction 67’) planned by Mohawk Arms, Inc., one that will span multiple generations and conflicts. “There’s something for just about everybody in this auction,” said Raymond Zyla, owner of Mohawk Arms, “from the novice beginner to the most seasoned and discriminating collector – about 1,700 lots in all.”
The sale will be held at the Mohawk Arms gallery, located on Route 20 in Bouckville, N.Y., a town located in central New York State, south and east of Rochester and not far from Interstates 81 and 90. Internet bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com and on the Mohawk Arms website – www.MilitaryRelics.com. Phone, fax and left bids will also be taken.
The Washington button and the War of 1812 chapeau are two expected top lots from the section dedicated to Colonial-era America. Both carry an opening bid (OB) of $1,250. The button is flat and copper, 34mm in diameter, and says “GW” and “Long Live the President.” The chapeau is triangle form, with a 10-inch-high center, and sports folded-up front and back brims.
The framed piece of a blue silk flag that was flown at the Battle of Gettysburg (July 3, 1863) is 2 ½ inches in diameter, with a painted 5-point star. It is historically significant, but has a modest opening bid of just $350. Expected to soar past that is a pre-Civil War era snare drum with a basswood body and painted portrait of George Washington. Its opening bid is $1,500.
Two other Civil War era lots of note are an excavated Confederate fighting knife (or cutlass), with a 19 ¾ inch single-edge, slightly curved edge, nicely mounted in a shadowbox with other found relics (OB: $700); and an attic find consisting of a U.S. Army regulation canvas knapsack, a cartridge box, a leather belt with brass “US” belt plate and other items (OB: $600).
The books from Hitler’s personal library were acquired in May 1945 by an American Major and his French counterpart, who had access to the Reichs Chancellory and gathered books with Hitler bookplates, stationery and other material. The tableware taken from one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces (OB: $1,250) consists of eight pieces, all engraved with the Iraqi eagle/shield.
From the armor category comes an extremely rare early 17th century English “lobster tail” Cromwellian helmet (OB: $2,000), a two-piece skull held in place with an arch of seven rivets across the center. A hinged visor has the three-bar face protector. From edged weapons is an 18th century Persian/Northern India ivory hilted jambiya, convex shaped with ivory grips (OB: $750).
