Date: Fri 26-Mar-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

HMoore

Full Text:

75 Civil War Letters At Hap Moore

By Rita Easton

BYFIELD, MASS. -- Four hundred fifty lots crossed the block at Hap Moore's

January 23 auction, one he described as drawing his "best ever crowd" of over

400 people.

"There didn't seem to be anything else of note going on that day," he added

modestly. The yearly January event featured consignments from many sources,

which Moore gathers only from private owners and estates. The 450 lots offered

garnered a gross of just under $100,000.

A collector won the top lot of the day at $2,900, a group of 75 letters

written by John Henry (Harry) Woodward, a Captain in the 105th Pennsylvania

Volunteers. Written between 1861 and 1865 to the woman who was at first his

sweetheart, then his wife, the missives contained detailed descriptions of

battles, troop movements, daily trials and activities, and frequent commentary

on the war.

The lot also included a pair of Captain's shoulder bars, woven hat tassels, an

ambrotype of a uniformed Woodward as a young soldier, a carte de visite of his

wife Mollie, and several other items, all sold with family provenance.

A Charles Miller ebonized corner cabinet with three sets of double cabinet

doors over two tiers of galleried shelves, English made, went to a dealer at

$2,200; a large collection of match safes, sold as separate lots, totaled

$3,400 for the group; a large lot of petroleum industry-related advertising,

starring many examples of Esso point-of-sale pieces, approximately 25 pieces,

fetched $5,000; and a tintype of two baseball players wearing plain clothes,

one holding a bat, the other a ball, made $300 for the sixth-plate image.

A world-wide stamp collection, in hinged archival albums, divided into 25 lots

brought $4,000 for the group; four smaller Steiff bears achieved $750; and a

marble bust of a girl in a hat, 13«-inches high, signed "A. Piani," reached

$450.

The buy of the day was a four-drawer pine chest on bracket feet, having some

repairs, going out at $395; a pair of nearly identical Limbert chairs, having

upholstered seats and backs, one chair having rockers, realized $600; two

Steiff cats sold as one lot at $200; and a three piece set of lapis lazuli

jewelry comprising a pair of earrings, a pin, and a pendant, made $475.

A Boston railroad plan went for $220; an enameled tin railroad sign

advertising the Great Northern Railway, 24 inches around, garnered $450; a

Cleveland Thurman political ribbon brought $125; and a five-inch diameter

Nantucket woven basket sold at $990.

Prices quoted do not reflect a ten percent buyers premium.