Civil War collection with antique firearms set to go off with a bang at Rock Island

Antique confederate seals, rare firearms and fine Civil War memorabilia grace this collection

If you are a collector of anything Civil War then Rock Island Auction Company's Illinois and online auction of December 2, 3, and 4 Premiere firearms auction is a must-see.

The sale will feature the most comprehensive antique American arms to be offered at auction this year and will be spearheaded by the following incredible Civil War collection. This grouping comes from 40+ years of collecting.

The collector's knowledge and passion jump off the pages of the auction catalogue. It is not only an incredibly fine collection of Civil War carbines but also the most complete with the rarest and most desirable configurations, variations as well as incredible high condition.

A fine example of one of just a few hundred J P Murray Confederate rifles

It would be an understatement to say that this collector had an 'eye'; as he explained, "I bought what I loved, and I bought the best that I could find".

To give you a small idea of the scope of this incredible collection:  it includes 70 Civil War carbines including the finest known Sharps Model 1855 British Contract Carbine, an exceptional and rare Greene Breech Loading Carbine, a historical Sharps John Brown Model 1853 Percussion Carbine, the complete evolution of the Hall carbine as well as the complete evolution of the Jenks Mule Ear carbine.

There are also three Martially Marked Henry Rifles, four Martially Marked Colt 1860 Army Revolvers, and over 10 Volcanic arms including two carbines.

A gold confederate seal of America featuring George Washington

Then there is the Civil War memorabilia, which speaks volumes to a wide scope of rare and desirable items that this collector was able to amass. It includes three variations of the rare and highly desirable Blakeslee Patent Spencer Carbine Cartridge Boxes including the 13 tube 'infantry' model.

An incredibly fine original box of New Haven Arms Co. Henry Cartridges needs a new home, along with 30 plus boxes of rare and desirable antique ammunition.

Finally the true Civil War collector will not be let down with the offering of these historic and important signatures from the following Civil War Generals: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade, J.E.B. Stuart, George Armstrong Custer, and George Pickett.

Civil War General George Custer's autograph is available now Click to find out more...

General Custer is probably remembered best for the disastrous battle in which he died: The Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand. Almost anything associated with the battle can be valuable.

For example, Spink Shreves sold a cover addressed to a dead soldier, John Hiley, who lost his life at Little Bighorn for $28,000 in August.

We're quite excited to be offering an album page sporting Civil War General George Custer's signature, priced at a rather more attainable £3,950 ($6,300).

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Images: Rock Island Auction