A theft in Annapolis: Securing your rare relics protects your heritage

Gregg Clemmer
DC Civil War Heritage Examiner
August 29, 2011

Our recent coverage of Civil War bullets being found in a downed Witness Tree at Gettysburg elicited a number of questions on what the actual projectiles looked like. Our follow-up article described and illustrated the three-ringed minie ball most commonly associated with the Union Army as well as the two-ringed Gardner bullet used by Confederates. To illustrate the wide variation in these war relics, we included a photograph of eight rare French minies, sporting their iconic triangular bases. What we did not report was that these particular, highly collectible bullets command up to $45 each in unfired, dug condition.

Now comes news of a burglary in Annapolis last week in which an estimated $68,000 worth of Civil War memorabilia was stolen.

According to police, someone slipped in through the victim’s sliding-glass door and made off with a briefcase of highly collectible Confederate items, including $52,000 in CSA certificates as well as highly collectible belt buckles, buttons, and tintype photographs worth an additional $16,000. Stolen between last Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening, this seems to have been a targeted theft as police report nothing else taken.

Surprised? Didn’t know Civil War memorabilia could be worth such money?

For purposes of illustration, we visited a modest collection in the bank safety deposit box and photographed a few of the rarer items, as pictured at left. We include descriptions and estimated appraisal values for each relic illustrated. All were excavated on private property -- with permission -- in Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia in the last three decades.

We urge you to not only revere, but protect your heritage ... especially those special, tangible treasures, be they from the Civil War ... or otherwise.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/nbh/2011/08/28-38/Arundel-Digest.html

© Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com

On the Web:   http://www.examiner.com/civil-war-heritage-in-washington-dc/a-theft-annapolis-securing-your-rare-relics-protects-your-heritage?CID=examiner_alerts_article