Civil War Collectibles: War Documents
Posted on October 30, 2008
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Collecting American Civil War memorabilia is a fascinating hobby to take up and one that allows the collector to learn much about one of the most important and sad events in the history of the United States. The Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was a turning point for the young nation. It was a time in which the nation was divided, emotions were heated, and whole families were torn apart as a result of the turmoil.
The war was marked with some truly bloody and dangerous battles, some of the most famous including Gettysburg, Antietam, and Vicksburg. Taking up purchasing and gathering Civil War collectibles is a means of allowing citizens of the 21st century to have a better understanding of these most tumultuous events of the 19th century. Before beginning a collection, however, it is necessary to understand the different types of Civil War collectibles that are available in order to have a better understanding of the historic value of each item.
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.
Another popular collectible that was used in conjunction with weaponry is the well-known Civil War cavalry bugles. These bugles were critical to the logistical success of battles and were utilized in order to tell the troops when to advance, charge, and withdraw. Cavalry bugles can be found in many stores specializing in Civil War collectibles, and they often have a rusty antique finish.
Bullets are a Civil War collectible that are to be found in large abundance. After the bloody battles of the Civil War were finished and the wounded and dead soldiers carried away, the battlefields were left deserted except for the bullets that were left cluttered in the fields. Civil War bullets were often collected by the townspeople who lived near the battlefield and kept as a reminder of the dangerous battles. These bullets were then often passed down through generations and many have ended up in Civil War collections and can be purchased. These bullets are interesting, and may give the collector an eerie feeling to know that what he/she is holding was once shot out of a gun on a chaotic battlefield. However, it is just because of that feeling that these bullets are such an important collectors item they truly convey the sense and emotion of the war. The types of guns in which they were shot are used to identify bullets. Some of the more well known are the .69 caliber belonging to a Smoothbore musket and the .55 caliber from the Austrian rifle musket.
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 collector’s knowledge of the American Civil War.
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