CINCINNATI – A renowned Civil War collection, singular historical memorabilia, photographs and manuscripts drove strong prices across two days of American historical ephemera and photography sales at Hindman Auctions. The November 12 Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca auction achieved more than $834,000. A 98 percent sell-through rate demonstrated bidders’ intense interest in this one-of-a-kind collection. Hats, drums, regulation bugles, swords, photographs and documents signed by America’s Founding Fathers were among standout lots in the auction. The November 15 American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction totaled more than $823,000 with a 91 percent sell-through rate. Early photography and manuscript archives were among auction highlights. In particular, Civil War photography was highly sought after.

Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca | November 12

The Civil War Collection of James C. Frasca ultimately totaled $834,875. Frasca spent 50 years of his life building his collection and was inspired by his mother Ann Carmen Frasca to search for and acquire historical objects. As a full-time dealer of Civil War artifacts for more than 40 years, Frasca placed outstanding material in virtually every major private Civil War collection in the country and a great many of the most prominent museums in America. Examples of such items include John Brown’s inscribed and annotated Bible at Harper’s Ferry to a pair of Robert E. Lee’s documented wartime gauntlets at the Civil War National Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Highlights of the sale included a pair of Union Army slouch hats identified to Captain Charles E. Nash, 19th Maine Infantry which achieved $87,500, more than double the presale estimate. Made even more distinct, each hat was accompanied by a handwritten note from the soldier that owned them, with details about the campaign and battle in which each hat was worn.

Drums and regulation bugles also achieved top prices. Among the many highlights were Civil War drums, including an elaborately painted drum from the Civil War decorated with an eagle and other patriotic motifs, which realized $34,375, more than four times its presale estimate. On the opposite side is a round brass tack design unique to the manufacturer.

Other notable sales included a sixth plate tintype taken in the field depicting Ohio soldiers, which soared past its presale estimate of $3,000-$4,000 to ultimately realize $25,000. The wonderfully detailed image features the soldiers posed with their rifles, equipment, mess gear and hardtack. One of the most notable features is a superbly detailed Ohio State Seal breastplate affixed to the corporal’s cartridge box sling. Most authorities consider this plate to be one of the rarest, if not the rarest of all Civil War Union plates.

American Historical Ephemera & Photography Auction | November 15

Following the strong performance of the Frasca Collection, the American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction continued the momentum, ultimately achieving $823,125.

It was led by the 1863 album entitled Yo-semite Valley: Photographic Views of the Falls and Valley of Yo-semite in Mariposa County, California, containing 63 photographs taken by Carleton Watkins, which tripled its presale estimate to realize $93,750. This is considered the most complete collection of Watkins’ Yosemite images ever sold at auction.

Other photography lots that were top performers included a group of 22 Edward Curtis photogravures, most from portfolio 1 of The North American Indian, which sold for $43,750.

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