If you have a Civil War item that you can't identify or something you want to know the value of, contact John (mail: Box 510, Acworth, GA 30101; email John at seantiquing@go-star.com with Civil War in the subject line or call 770-329-4984 or 770-974-6495). John needs a good description of the item, condition, manufacturer's marks and any other markings, and photos. Please Note: All questions MUST be accompanied with a Photo, it should not be more than 200k in file size.

John, I have an 1863 Civil War musket I would like to find the value of and sell.

JS: Your gun is known as a Colt special contract musket. Special contract muskets are variant in certain details to other contract Civil War muskets, but typically all had the same basic dimensions and configuration, and all sell for about the same in today's market with few exceptions. Colt's arms company made about 100,000 of these muskets during the Civil War. Often, these arms are found in "like new" condition and can sell for between $4,000 and $6,000.

Your gun appears complete and all original, including its original bayonet and scabbard; however, the condition is just average at best for other guns found in the market. The stock appears sanded and refinished, and the metal surfaces have pitting and appear cleaned chemically, possibly with naval jelly.

Colt manufactured arms usually bring a premium over other contracts, as Colt is the most famous of American arms manufacturers. You can find similar guns priced at Civil War trade shows between $1,000 and $1,500. An auction is always a good venue to sell Civil War guns. EBay used to be a good venue; however, they no longer accept firearms. Any good local auction that is well advertised should have similar results and give you the best return. If you want to sell the musket quickly, you could send pictures to one of the many online dealers of Civil War memorabilia and ask for offers. A good dealer, depending on their needs, generally will pay at least 70% of what they sell at retail. 

John, I have never seen a tribute like this before so I don’t know how many there might be out there. This is a 17 x 27-inch handwritten tribute (white lettering on a black board) to Albert E. Lyke, 4th New York Volunteer Heavy Artillery (originally known as Doubleday’s Heavy Artillery) for him and two brothers, William B. Lyke and Edward H. Lyke for serving in the 1861-1865 Rebellion (Civil War). I also have photos taken late in the life of Albert E. Lyke, in uniform, as well as his metals.

JS: The document you show here is known as a soldier’s memorial or an "escutcheon." There were many different forms, styles and sizes made for many years after the Civil War. Similar memorials became popular for soldiers of later wars also. Your memorial appears in very good condition and has the most unusual feature of memorializing three brothers instead of a single soldier.

The three brothers all served in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery which served as infantry late in the war and had a good fighting history and many casualties, including the death of one brother, the wounding of another, and the capture of the third, Albert E. Lyke. He is shown in two reunion photos wearing his GAR badge that you also have.

Typically, escutcheons are priced at Civil War trade shows for about $200; this one might bring a premium based on the most interesting history of three brothers on one memorial, where a vast majority only have history of one participant, and as part of Albert's photos and two medals. The ladder badge for 4th NYHA will sell for about $400, and the GAR badge with gold oak leaf insignia on pale blue background to flag signifies either GAR post surgeon or post vice-commander (according to a very good dealer website, CivilWarBadges.com) and will bring about $100. With the two nice circa 1900 photos, this group should sell for around $700.