Every once in a great while, grandson may dig through grandma's attic and discover some antique or vintage Civil War artifact. Or, a rummage through the box at the local flee-market brings about an object from the 1860s. Indeed, unless you get lucky, most of the antique Civil War collectibles today are bought and sold at higher prices. Recently, in fact, the terms of surrender for Robert E. Lee just sold for over $500,000 dollars while a confederate flag recently fetched $179,000 dollars. Even if you don't have this extra cash lying around, you can still buy Civil War relics or newly produced collectibles at decent prices today.
One of the hottest collectibles from the Civil War period is Civil War tokens. These are actual vintage token coins that replaced money for a short time during the war. And the interesting thing about these tokens is that they were privately minted between 1862 and 1864. Most of the tokens have anywhere from 5,000 to less than five remaining in private hands.
Some of the most captivating Civil War collectibles are Civil War soldiers' letters. These letters are fascinating and sad items that recount the everyday realities of the war. Many, written by men to their wives, often recount of lonely times in campsites with inadequate food and little shelter. The letters are often heart wrenching, conveying the wish of the soldiers to end the war and go home to their families and loved ones.
If coins don't intrigue your senses, then there are all sorts of other possibilities in starting your first Civil War collectible set. If you like the sound of something directly from the Civil War era, then think about collecting items of slavery. Collectors usually go for sale papers, manumission papers, tags, ads, photos, letters or books. If you'd like to bring history to life, and like sleuthing, find items with autographs or signatures from generals or important persons of the day. Postcards, books, military orders, maps, envelopes, receipts and the like are full of such signatures. You'll find that once you start looking, it becomes hard to stop.
If you'd like to start your vintage Civil War collection with something other than "paper products," then try finding teapots and kettles. Or, you can amass products such as artwork, calendars, figurines, games, guns, military souvenirs, such as ammunition, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, tags and the like. Finding a unique idea will lead you in search at some amazing places. Be sure, however, that such hobbies are a lifetime pursuit and should be something you're really passionate about.
Additionally, reports of battles are also useful to collectors, and provide insight into the way in which battles were viewed at the time. The New York Times, for example, printed a number of articles at the time that discuss battles. There is one article in particular that discusses the Battle of Gettysburg (which took place on the 4th of July, 1863) and that is prized by Civil War collectors. The article is broken down into sections: Incidents of the Battle and List of Killed and Wounded. In flowery language, the journalist describes the bravery of the soldiers and the critical turning points of the battle. The letter is a priceless Civil War collectible!
For those who wish to gain a better and more experiential understanding of the horrors and critical events and battles which took place during the Civil War, becoming a collector of Civil War memorabilia is an invaluable hobby to take up. Not only is it possible to become familiar with some of the most critical items of the war, such as weapons and bullets, one may also learn more about warships that were used during the war. There are many Civil War collectibles besides the three discussed above these include manuscripts, buttons, and confederate bonds. As one begins a Civil War collection, all of these items will become a part of the individual collection that is created, and each individual item will in turn contribute to increasing the collectors knowledge of the American Civil War.
One of the hottest collectibles from the Civil War period is Civil War tokens. These are actual vintage token coins that replaced money for a short time during the war. And the interesting thing about these tokens is that they were privately minted between 1862 and 1864. Most of the tokens have anywhere from 5,000 to less than five remaining in private hands.
Some of the most captivating Civil War collectibles are Civil War soldiers' letters. These letters are fascinating and sad items that recount the everyday realities of the war. Many, written by men to their wives, often recount of lonely times in campsites with inadequate food and little shelter. The letters are often heart wrenching, conveying the wish of the soldiers to end the war and go home to their families and loved ones.
If coins don't intrigue your senses, then there are all sorts of other possibilities in starting your first Civil War collectible set. If you like the sound of something directly from the Civil War era, then think about collecting items of slavery. Collectors usually go for sale papers, manumission papers, tags, ads, photos, letters or books. If you'd like to bring history to life, and like sleuthing, find items with autographs or signatures from generals or important persons of the day. Postcards, books, military orders, maps, envelopes, receipts and the like are full of such signatures. You'll find that once you start looking, it becomes hard to stop.
If you'd like to start your vintage Civil War collection with something other than "paper products," then try finding teapots and kettles. Or, you can amass products such as artwork, calendars, figurines, games, guns, military souvenirs, such as ammunition, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, tags and the like. Finding a unique idea will lead you in search at some amazing places. Be sure, however, that such hobbies are a lifetime pursuit and should be something you're really passionate about.
Additionally, reports of battles are also useful to collectors, and provide insight into the way in which battles were viewed at the time. The New York Times, for example, printed a number of articles at the time that discuss battles. There is one article in particular that discusses the Battle of Gettysburg (which took place on the 4th of July, 1863) and that is prized by Civil War collectors. The article is broken down into sections: Incidents of the Battle and List of Killed and Wounded. In flowery language, the journalist describes the bravery of the soldiers and the critical turning points of the battle. The letter is a priceless Civil War collectible!
For those who wish to gain a better and more experiential understanding of the horrors and critical events and battles which took place during the Civil War, becoming a collector of Civil War memorabilia is an invaluable hobby to take up. Not only is it possible to become familiar with some of the most critical items of the war, such as weapons and bullets, one may also learn more about warships that were used during the war. There are many Civil War collectibles besides the three discussed above these include manuscripts, buttons, and confederate bonds. As one begins a Civil War collection, all of these items will become a part of the individual collection that is created, and each individual item will in turn contribute to increasing the collectors knowledge of the American Civil War.
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