Custer Artifacts
By John Sexton · Originally published September 2016 · p. 26
Custer Artifacts Question to the Appraiser:
A Custer scholar sent me this information and links pertaining to a Sharp’s Carbine reputed to be Chief Black Kettle’s and from the Battle of the Washita. His last email mentions that Custer’s Trevilian Station sword is coming up for auction shortly. This sword was pictured in Glenn Swanson’s “The Life and Times of G.A. Custer”, one of the best photograph books on Custer and his artifacts. I have heard that this sword is bogus. However, the provenance that I heard is different than that in a newspaper article which reported that the collection was displayed at the Little Bighorn NPS. What is your opinion? Response: You present interesting insight on recent Custer memorabilia auctions. George Armstrong Custer was no doubt the most famous 19th-century American general and he and his most famous “Last Stand” are written about still today. Custer is currently portrayed on new AMC television series “The American West”. Anything associated with Custer is quite valuable, and auctions are bringing numerous items to market, many with suspect provenance at best in my opinion. The Washita carbine sold in May for over $150,000; someone must have loved the purported history and provenance. The gun indeed was among the best looking tacked Indian carbines of the era you will find based on photographs, but what are you buying; a story or true provenance? Several great items of Custer association have been sold with unquestioned provenance. In April 1995 the largest collection of objects with direct family provenance of Custer memorabilia sold at Butterfield’s in San Francisco with several items bringing over six figures. Several more items were sold at moderate prices in the same auction with less direct family provenances. Several more items have sold since in auction as noted for high prices most suspect in my opinion, thus the Custer mystique. Other notable sales with provenance have been guidon de-accessed by Detroit Art Museum by Sotheby’s December 2010 for $2,200,000. Without the Custer mystique as Sotheby’s stated it was just another textile. Spinks sold Several of Custer’s medals with a direct link to Libbie Custer in 2012, including Libbie’s miniature copy of Custer valor medal, now on loan to Monroe Michigan Custer museum. Two more valor medals were sold since, one by James Julia Auctions in a grouping of Colonel George Briggs for $184,000, March 2013. Just last month Cowan’s auction sold another small grouping in 2 lots totaling over $190,000 for valor medal of James Kidd. These medals were only authorized by Custer, again the Custer mystique. Coming up at James Julia Auctions in October is first and only grouping that I am aware to be sold in the auction from the direct family descent. The family is starting conservation fund for other Custer objects currently loaned to institutions or soon to be. The family members have retained many great Custer personal items so that the rich history is revered in the family. This grouping consists of lock of Custer’s famous curly hair cut just prior to last campaign where he met his demise, a wonderful 4-foot section of a map that Custer is photographed with at Ft. Abraham Lincoln quarters with Libbie prior to Little Big Horn and five other personally owned George Armstrong Custer items, all to sold in one lot. I have personally cataloged these objects, provenance and history are impeccable. John is an certified appraiser with International Society of Appraisers specializing in Civil War memorabilia. He authenticates and evaluates other rare and valuable historic items also. Send “Ask The Appraiser” questions and photographs to [email protected].
Above: 6-inch lock of Custer’s curls cut before Little Big Horn. (James D. Julia Inc.)
Right: Portion of Custer personal map to be sold in October.
(John Sexton)