ID Request: Buckle

[Memphislady]

I spoke with Mr. Mullinex after sending him the pictures. He confirmed that it is, indeed, a "very rare...his words" Louisiana state buckle. It was made in approximately 1850 by the state of Louisiana and not the confederate army issue. He said that it was, therefore, possible that it belonged to Private Levy prior to the war and not obtained after wards.
I also went to visit my Aunt and got a copy of the story that the original owner wrote, " Two Years in a Northern Prison" a portion of which is published in the Confederate Veteran Volume 14, 1906 . I also got a picture of the old gent taken in 1900 which I will try to include in this post. This marvelous site, and all of you, have given me more information on my own past than you can imagine. Thank you all.
Mr. Mullinex said that the buckle should sell for between $4,500 and $5,500 due to its rarity and the information which documents it. Just for fun, I posted it tonight on eBay for that figure. If it sold, I could turn the attic into two bedrooms for my three adopted Vietnamese kids. Wouldn't that be a gift from the distant past. They are all grandchildren of U. S. service men. It would be as though an old soldier reached out from the grave to help the children of later soldiers. Something to ponder.
Again, thank all of you who helped. The kids loved meeting Aunt Jessie and love the stories she shared with us. [img]http://pak04.pictures.aol.com/NASApp/ygp/Login?event=DirectView&shareInfo=esv4e%2b9w77m724L wDZiT5CbxDqb%2b3W%2fqz3zQuZ9wioq%2fjFCnkV3ciA%3d%3 d&pageName=AlbumViewFromEmails&locale=en_US


noopyd's Album:Lewis Fisher Levy
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[MosbyRanger]

I am glad to hear you had some luck getting all the info you were looking for MemphisLady! That is truly a wonderful piece of history you have in your hands. I am sorry I don't have that kind of cash to bid on it!!!!

[Memphislady]

I received a request from Hannover Brass saying that it should sell for $7,500 + and that I should have let them cast it for me prior to sale. If it doesn't sell, should I let them cast it, and, if so, under what terms? Sorry to be such a bother, but I am really not knowledgeable in these matters. If you can advise, it would be much appreciated. Thank you again.

[MosbyRanger]

My personal opinion is that you shouldn't let anyone touch it unless they are going to buy it. But..that's just my opinion!!!!!!! I am not sure if by "casting" you mean they want to make a copy? They probably know what they are doing but I would be all paranoid about the original sustaining some damage. But....like I said...if it were mine, no one would be getting their hands on it...unless they were buying it!!! Just a very humble opinion! You should try to contact North South Trader magazine!!! They would probably love to see it and maybe publish this buckle in an issue...especially now that you have documentation! They also have a price guide and they may also give you an estimate!

[J.A.Morrow]

Hi,
The 4,500.00 quote is WAY TO CHEAP.
A good example of an ORDINARY Confederate belt plate can go for around that price.Refer to some of the Civil War relic sites to get an idea of what I'm talking about...
Harry Ridgeway has a very good reference site for dealer listings.Go there...
Don't be in a hurry to sell it.
I think the offers,so far,are pretty conservative and that's putting it mildly...
As to loaning it for a restrike-that's very risky(though I let Hanover brass cast an original South Carolina buckle of mine years ago,with no problems.
But I realize now that I took a "chance"and was just lucky that the post mail did'nt lose it.
Great find.But you can get much better offers than this,so far...

[Memphislady]

The Story of the Louisiana sword belt plate goes on. After giving the buckle to my aunt because she had nothing that had belonged to her grandfather, my great grandfather, Lewis Levy, I stopped looking at this site.
In June my aunt died and today the buckle was returned to me. Is any one interested in purchasing it. I would really like for some one who treasures it to have it. My brother could care less and my children are adopted Vietnamese and don't really see the Civil War as part of their history. Don't really know the best way to proceed and had an ugly experience on eBay as already explained.

[Selma Hunter]

MemphisLady -

Thank you for your postings. One thing you should NOT overlook is the written account left by your ancestor of his time in the yankee prison camp. I am currently having a journal appraised for a friend of mine - it contained an account of a young man who was in Co. K 5th Infantry in Virginia. Captured at Spotsylvania Courthouse, he was sent north to Fort Delaware. In his journal he names names of the worst of the guards, tells of the intentional abuse, starvation and neglect, and generally tells a story of systemic mistreatment. After the war he was also involved in the emerging photography business in Lexington, VA, and eventually moved to Texas where he continued that profession.

That journal is going to appraise for upwards of $5-6,000 and will likely be donated to an institution there in VA where so much of the provenance began.

If you want a contact for such an appraisal let me know and I'll send you the man's info.

Take good care of your artifacts ma'am.

[Selma Hunter]

MemphisLady -

I have no idea how this posted twice!

Ah well.

[Gary Deaton]

Appears to be a Louisiana state seak on the plate.