3053 INSCRIBED MITCHELL & TYLER CONFEDERATE FOOT

SOLD
Sign In To View Winning Bid
This item SOLD at 2023 May 14 @ 10:52UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 6,000.00 USD
Estimated at 12,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD

OFFICER SWORD ATTRIBUTED TO CAPT. THOMAS H. BELL 6TH ALABAMA, KILLED AT BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES. Classic Mitchell & Tyler, Richmond, VA retailed Boyle & Gamble manufactured sword with their characteristic fancy floral ring mounts, bulbous grip with fancier twisted wire. Engraved throat of scabbard: "Capt. / Jno A. Bell / 6th Ala / CSA". The only problem with this impeccable contemporary inscription is that there is not a Capt. Jno. A. Bell in the Confederate army much less the 6th Ala. The sword little doubt belonged to “Capt. Tho. H. Bell, 6th ALA”, killed at Battle of Seven Pines. The mystery was solved in forensic report by Nancy Rossbacher accompanying sword and available online
This sword surfaced in 1885 newspaper advertisement by the mayor of Philadelphia, a major during the war who was making wishes of the now deceased capturer of the sword to return it to the family of Captain Bell. Several other ads continued till 1912 and one stated the sword belonged to officer who fell at Seven Pines. Col. Oates, former colonel of the 15th Ala and later governor of Alabama was reported in 1885 to remember "Capt. John A. Bell, whose sword was captured at Seven Pines is now in the hands of Mayor Smith of Philadelphia.". In final analysis, one wonders if handwritten order for "Tho. H. Bell" inscription be misread as "Jno. A. Bell" When comparing wartime receipts signed by Capt. Tho. H. Bell", it would have been easy to have been wrongly interpreted by engraver. There are many typos in Civil War inscriptions, this is another one. There was no Capt. Jno. A. Bell, in conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt this sword belonged to Captain Thomas H. Bell, 6th ALA, Killed at Battle of Seven Pines.
A long chain of ownership can be traced from 1885 to date and is included in report. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: large binder of research, Nancy Rossbacher report, correspondence from several collectors, original bill of sale.
CONDITION: very good overall, all original and complete, gray blade, mottled dark brass patina matching on hilt, pommel, and scabbard mounts, leather grip 95% complete with chipping and scuffs. Hilt is slightly loose, leather scabbard body scuffed and dry, middle mount loose and slides, drag has several dents. PROVENANCE: Cullen Smith estate collection. (02-17237/JS). $12,000-$15,000.