Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: SARAH

Quick Words:

Jackson

Full Text:

The Spoils Of War

with 12 cuts

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA -- It was standing room only at Jackson's March 2 auction as

over 300 registered bidders diligently competed for 800 lots of Native

American, firearms, militaria and tribal art offered on the one-day catalogued

auction. The sale featured four main collections including contemporary

African tribal art deaccessioned from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, a

collection of firearms and militaria from Leanard Goedken, Dubuque, Iowa, the

Native American artifacts collection from the estate of Walter King and an

extensive Civil War arms deaccessioned from a Midwest institute.

While there were many notable items that crossed the block, the highlight of

the auction was Lot 280. Catalogued as a fine Federal Civil War mortar, 30" in

length and dated 1855, the pre-sale estimate of $8/12,000 was quickly passed

with bidding moving at one thousand dollar increments until the hammer fell

with a boom and winning bid of $45,920.

The auction started off with Native American stone artifacts from the Walter

"Woody" King estate. King, a Conrad, Iowa native, was a well-known collector

who passed away in 1976. Of the 120 or so lots to sell, the first was a

four-inch, ‹ grove polished stone ax that came in $588, including premium.

Other Indian artifact highlights include a four-inch Dalton blade at $515, a

four inch Agate Basin point finished at $235, a lot with two small Dalton

points and two metal points sold for $425 and a seven-inch stone ax made $488.

Overall interest in stone artifacts was strong with a number of collectors

commenting on the well-thought out arrangement and grouping of the artifacts

offered. Bag lots of points sold for a low of $50 for common examples and up

to $300 a bag for better examples.

Momentum really picked up as lot 229 went on the block. The lot consisted of

20 items from Iowa Civil War veteran, Major William S. Robertson. It featured

his model 1851 officer's frock coat (no rank insignia) and his five-button

sack coat. The lot also included a pocket Colt revolver, GAR memorabilia and a

walking stick. The grouping sold to a Pennsylvania collector for $11,200. That

was followed by another uniform grouping consisting of items belonging to a

WWII Air Force veteran. It sold to an Ohio collector for $840. Up next was an

interesting hand-written letter from Joseph E. "Red" Sullivan to his parents.

The Waterloo, Iowa native was one of the five Sullivan Brothers who, along

with all of his brothers, perished when their ship, the U.S.S. Juneau was sunk

in the Pacific in the fall of 1942. The water stained letter sold to an

in-house bidder for $1,344. Two letters signed by J. Edgar Hoover, typed on

FBI director stationary, followed the Sullivan letter. One of the Hoover

letters mentioned Martin Luther King and was dated 1968. It sold for $616; the

other brought $336.

Lot 243, a 30 by 40 inch color lithograph poster dated 1905 promoting Buffalo

Bill's Wild West Show and displaying minor restoration, saw strong interest

with a floor bidder and two phone bidders hotly competing for the colorful

image. Bidding opened at $5,000 and quickly found its way to $9,240 selling to

a California collector. Not far behind was a Civil War period surgeon's set.

The small 15 by seven inch rosewood cased chest that held 16 medical

instruments sold to the floor for $2,240.

As the sale progressed into the Civil War items, arms and armor, the intensity

of bidding dramatically increased. Lot 268, an unassuming 14" Bowie knife with

stag grip, some chips and nicks, the blade marked "Kingman & Hassam Boston,"

opened at $2,000 and finished at $4,760, selling to a New Jersey collector.

When lot 279, (a Civil War howitzer canon) was announced, a quiet hush filled

the gallery. The 68" long cast iron canon tube, marked US and CA & Co Boston

opened at $8,000 and finished at $15,680, selling to a Virginia collector.

That was just a prelude for things to come. The following lot, an iron dome

shaped Civil War mortar weighing around fifteen hundred pounds and measuring

approximately 30 inches in height and 64 inches round was to be the top lot of

the day. Marked US and CA & Co Boston and dated 1855 it was estimated at

$8/10,000. Bidding opened at $7,500 and bounced around between four phone

bidders up to around the $20,000 mark where they one by one dropped out. Two

in-house bidders then took command of bidding until, much to the surprise of

everyone in attendance, the hammer fell at an astounding $45,932 followed by

an enthusiastic round of applause. Federal and Confederate projectiles were

next. From complete to badly damaged examples, they ranged from a low of $100

to a high of $950 a piece.

The first group of Civil War firearms sold next with a model 1859 Sharps .52

caliber carbine leading the way at $1,792. A Model 1863 .52 caliber Sharps

Carbine sold for $1,904, a clean Ball Carbine did $2,016, a Smith Carbine came

in at $1,456 and a .50 caliber Maynard Carbine managed $1,232. A British,

Tower Rifled Musket, pattern 1858 Sergeants rifle sold to a New Hampshire

collector for $1,232 and a US Harper's Ferry 1859 dated percussion

rifle-musket sold to the same buyer, for $1,344. Other highlights include a

.54 caliber US Whitney, model 1848 percussion rifle (aka Mississippi Rifle)

that sold for $1,904. A .58 caliber Model 1861 percussion rifle finished at

$1,000 and a Model 1854 Austrian Lorenz musket did $952. Of the handguns sold,

those worthy of mention include a matched set of French flintlock pistols,

overall length 12 inches each, they sold to Pennsylvania collector for $2,016.

A British military style flintlock with London proofs did $1,064 and a

European dragoon style flintlock made $784. A .32 rim fire Moore, single

action revolver needing a little TLC sold for $672, a .36 caliber Model IV,

Manhattan, percussion revolver came in at $504 and 36 caliber Colt, percussion

Police Model revolver crossed the block at $1,064.

The six WWI vintage machine guns that were being sold on behalf of a Midwest

institute saw wide interest. Seven phone lines were lit-up as the first

machine gun began to sell. The Colt-manufactured Vickers water-cooled machine

gun, opened at $7,000 and quickly reached the winning bid of $15,120. Next up

was a Model 1917 Lewis machine gun, it sold for $7,840. A model 1906 Marlin

Arms "Potato Digger" made $6,720, a model 1909 Springfield Arsenal "Benet

Mercie" did $5,152. A French Hotchkiss sold for $2,016 and a Chauchat finished

at $1,064.

Civil War swords sold next with a model 1840 mounted artillery saber marked

Ames selling for $924. An 1862 dated, Model 1860 US Navy cutlass sold for

$868. An Ames manufactured Model 1860 light Cavalry saber in average condition

did $756, and a US Model 1840 "Wrist Breaker" finished at $644. A US Model

1850 foot officers sword marked "W. Clauberg-Solingen" made $588 as did a

Model 1840 dragoon saber. Other edged weapons also faired well including a 30

inch Turkish saber dated 1911 that sold to Virginia collector for $784.

Although it was in rough condition, a Sixteenth Century horseman's saber dated

1585 sold to a Michigan collector for $1,624.

The last group of guns to sell was a collection of various Winchester lever

actions and a small offering of double guns. The first Winchester to go off

(no pun intended) was a well used and knocked around Model 1866 Winchester .44

caliber Carbine. Although it lacked the saddle ring and the stock displayed a

repaired crack, Winchester enthusiasts just can't resist the allure of these

"tamers of the West." Bidding opened at $1,000 and slowly inched its way up to

a winning bid of $3,248. Other Winchester sales include a first Model 1873 .44

caliber for $2,016, a third Model 1873 .45-75 caliber brought $1,232, another

similar example did $1,064 and a .30 caliber Model 1895 did $840. Double gun

highlights include a finely engraved Parker Brothers 12 gauge that sold for

$1,848. A scarce Colt 12 gauge double barrel went for $1,568 and an L.C. Smith

12 gauge Damascus double barrel finished at $1,000.

Scattered throughout the sale was a variety of contemporary African tribal

art. The carvings and masks were consigned from Grinnell College, Grinnell,

Iowa. Masks sold for a low of $50 a piece to a high of $300 a piece. Larger

carvings sold slightly higher averaging between $100 to $350 a piece. The

tribal art was representative of contemporary works produced by African

carvers somewhat in the style of the well known museum examples but produced

specifically for tourists.

For a fully illustrated catalogue with prices realized for this auction, call

Jackson's at 319/277-2256.