The opportunity to own an unrepaired, complete and excavated Civil War stencil is rare enough. But to own one associated with an infantryman who was killed in battle...one that has been published in two different places...and one that comes from a renowned old collection? That's just going to happen once in a collecting lifetime. And this is it.

I have owned this stencil for a number of years and am only selling it because I recently purchased one associated with the 8th Illinois Cavalry -- one of my favorite regiments. I could (and probably should) keep this one, too. But I'm trying to learn that you can't hold on to everything. So once in awhile, I like to cut something loose from my private collection. BUT -- "my private collection" is not the renowned collection I spoke of in the first paragraph. This stencil was part of the famous Wendell Lang collection for a number of years before I bought it. It is also published in a 1979 edition of North South Trader AND in William C. Davis's wonderful book, "The Battlefields of the Civil War". A photocopy of the page from the book is included with the purchase.

 

The stencil is in tip-top condition. I have shown it against a couple of different backgrounds so you can clearly make it out. I have some paperwork on the soldier indicating he was killed at North Anna River, Virginia in May of 1864. The 36th Wisconsin was only active from March of 1864 until the war's end, but they had a pretty bloody history. J.C. McIntyre of Company A was one of their tragic casualties. If this were an ID tag, the price would be almost double and you know it would sell quickly. Stencils are every bit as desirable in my opinion and arguably moreso...since they are so fragile and are rarely recovered in complete condition. This one has no repairs and only the most minor bends and a tiny crack or two -- only mentioned for the sake of exactness.

 

I am going to hate selling this but if it goes to a good home, I'll be pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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