Washingtoniana

"1862" (ca. 1870s) Great Seal of the Confederacy. Electrotype. Musante GW-564, Baker-Unlisted. Silver-Plated Copper Shell. Extremely Fine.

127 mm x 127 mm overall, The seal itself approximately 96 mm excluding its gilt brass frame. The original matte silver finish has been retained unaltered beneath the glazed frame. The interior of the leather and velvet lined case is bright and fresh, but the exterior shows wear and has lost the leather covering from the top. The brass hinges and locking clasp are still functional. This item is similar to the one that was included in our (Stack's) Ford VII sale of January 2005. The original seal design was finalized on April 30, 1863, and features an equestrian Washington portrait at center, with the inscription, THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA : 22 FEBRUARY 1862 * DEO VINDICE * around. Readers of this sale will likely know that February 22nd was Washington's birthday, but it was also the day selected for CSA President Jefferson Davis' inauguration. The original embossing dies were produced by Joseph S. Wyon in England, and shipped to the Confederate States. Electrotype copies such as this are said to have been made in the 1870s and sold in limited numbers to raise funds for the benefit of Confederate widows and orphans, according to research by Musante.

Estimate: $ 520