American Civil War memorabilia is some of the most sought-after for collectors of wartime artifacts. Don’t just give away any Civil War pieces you’ve inherited or collected. Get them appraised, because they could be worth much more than you think. For example, a single pre-Civil War Colt revolver once sold for $2,000 at one of our auctions.
Contact Central Mass Auctions today to tell us about your piece of Civil War history, or read on to learn more.
What makes Civil War memorabilia valuable?
It depends on the piece and on its story.
Items belonging to Black soldiers and high-ranking soldiers often have high value, as do items attached to well-known regiments or battles. Items related to the Confederacy often fetch the most money at auction, for a variety of reasons.
Provenance, quality, and condition will be the three biggest determinants. Documentation that helps trace the ownership of a particular item might help you sell it for a higher price. However, appraisal can help you match otherwise nondescript items to specific units or soldiers, sometimes leading to higher auction prices.
What counts as a Civil War relic?
Almost anything you can think of, if it dates from the right era and has a good story behind it. We’ve auctioned Civil War swords, antique firearms, canteens, uniforms, diaries, old letters, and photographs, to name a few items.
Here’s a lap desk we auctioned once. It belonged to Union General and one-time presidential candidate Benjamin Butler. We auctioned it for $900. An autographed letter by Butler went for $200.
Memorabilia from his campaign, including the Massachusetts Democratic ticket, sold for $150.
Big names don’t need to be attached to these items for them to gain a little money. Here’s an 1865 receipt for a $1 contribution to a fund dedicated to raising a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Columbus, Ohio. It went for $30. Not a substantial amount, but not bad for a receipt.
If you have a collection of relics it’s easy to see how auctioning them all off can amount to a substantial amount of money. You might be surprised to find out just how many items might be tucked away into chests and attics, especially if a loved one had an interest in the era.
A new chapter for your piece of Civil War history
Remember, in the collecting world an item is worth what someone pays for it. We help increase the worth of your civil war memorabilia by getting it in front of passionate and knowledgeable collectors of Civil War and other historical artifacts.
Get started today by calling (508) 612-6111. We’ll appraise your items, get them ready for auction, and make sure that you’re getting fair market value for any antiques you have in your possession.
