Civil War Antiques

Antiques from the Civil War era are among the most valuable on the American antique market. If you think you have an item in your home that belongs to the Civil War era, then get thee to Antiques Roadshow and fast- you’ve probably got a small fortune in your attic!

The market for Civil War era antiques may be specialized, but it’s lucrative. Avid collectors of Civil War items are willing to pony up big bucks for the opportunity to own memorabilia from this period in American history, making the sale of Civil War era items one of the most profitable specialties in antique auctions.

An auction of Civil War items at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in June, 2008 netted $1,541,812 for 848 items, not counting post-auction sales. The highest price paid for an item was “Sheridan’s Ride from Winchester,” a painting by Thomas Buchanan Read. The painting brought $149,375. An artist/sculptor and poet, Read served during the Civil War.

Among other items that brought tidy sums were swords, one bringing over $77,000, another over $59,000. A documented jacket with the period-inscription “Rebel Coat Captured by the Union Soldiers at Cumberland Gap” brought over $41,000.

For the collector who does not have several thousand dollars to plunk down for a Civil War-era antique, there are other, less dear, options. Photography, a burgeoning art which achieved popularity during the Civil War era, is a great starting point for those just getting into Civil War antique collecting; while a large collection of Civil War-era photographs can fetch thousands of dollars, individual photographs can be had for much less. Other good options for beginners include buttons, tokens, and ammunition.

Beginners to the Civil War antique-collecting game should take care to buy from reputable sellers. While there are reputable sellers both in brick and mortar businesses and online businesses, there are also those to watch for, as well. No one wants to buy a supposed relic only to find its a fake. Make sure any seller you use is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Another good way to find reputable sellers is to ask other collectors - they may not want to reveal their sources, but be persistent.

However, if you do begin collecting Civil War era antiques, make sure you have good insurance or a biting dog. In 1998, two Pennsylvania men were caught with between $2 and $3 million dollars worth of Civil War era antiques that they’d stolen from several museums over a ten year period. Among the items the men stole were swords presented to Union General George Meade after the Battle of Gettysburg, swords belonging to Major General David Birney and to Major General Andrew Humphreys.

One of the most valuable items was a rifle, once owned by John Brown, that was made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania around 1780.

The men had stolen the items to resale on the lucrative Civil War antiques market, and were caught when collectors tipped the FBI off about the items.