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Exonumia - Secret Societies, Fraternal Orders/Organizations

Exonumia - Regalia
Secret Society, Fraternal Orders/Organizations, Regalia
Masonic and Military Association Items
For Sale or Trade.
We Buy - Single Items or Entire Collections

Foot Artillery Short Sword, Fraternal
$75.00 $60.00 On Sale!
FOOTARTSRTSWDFRAT001




Foot Artillery Short Sword of fraternal style, blunted tip. White metal hilt, cast. Based on the neo-classical French Model 1831 Foot Artillery Short Sword (in turn based on the Roman gladius). No markings are visible, so origin is unknown.
Overall length is ~23-1/2""; blade length is ~18-1/4". Blade is un-marked.
Good condition overall.
NOTE: No scabbard.


Mexican Artillery NCO's Jacket, circa 1800s
$1,500.00
1MEXARTJACKET001A

This is a Mexican Artillery/Grenadier NCO's or Gunner's Jacket (or tunic) dating from about the 1830s to about the 1870s. Gold (yellow) decorations in the design of grenades (aka flaming bombs) are affixed to the collar and tails (turn-backs) of the jacket. Blue body and lapels (breast-cover) with red collar, cuffs, and piping (designates artillery); breast-cover has 18 buttons, 9 on each side, silver and ~7/8" in diameter; four buttons on back straps, same style as front; three buttons on sleeves near cuffs on each side, ~5/8" in diameter.
Blue belt loops with red piping along the waist-line; solid red loops on the shoulders running front-to-back for attaching boards or epaulettes; this indicates to me an officer's jacket, commissioned or non-commissioned, but not a private (as a private's jacket would normally have straps running from neck-to-shoulder where-under accoutrement/equipment straps would run).
Jacket is lined but lining has been replaced at some later time.

The noted publication Cronica del Traje Militar en Mexico del Siglo XVI AL XX by Artes de Mexico, No. 102, Ano XV, 1968 shows similar jackets illustrated on pages 64-65. The jacket on page 64 is of a mounted artillery colonel with remarks "1875 Republica" with description (on page 65), "Artillery Colonel, 1875. This style of military uniform was introduced in 1869, after the restoration of the Republic. Of stern dignity, these models were patterned after the French fashion, continued in Mexican armed forces for more than 40 years." The unusual thing is a more closely designed jacket is illustrated on page 65 as "Figure B". On that page the jacket is illustrated but not described; however, it is included with other descriptions of illustrated uniforms as follows, "In 1839, Presidial Companies garrisoned forts along Texas and California. Fig. a, recalls the famous Cuera Dragoons; c, was the Presidial dress in California; d, is a recaptured deserter; e, an invalid." Figure "b" is not mentioned at all in the description but is clearly grouped with other dress/uniforms known circa 1839! I contend the jacket is from that period.
In the publication Arms and Uniforms - The Napoleonic Wars - Part 2 by Liliane and Fred Funcken on pages 115-116 in the section covering The Spanish Army, there is virtually an identical uniform illustrated on page 115 noted as 4 & 5 with description on page 116 under the heading "SPAIN INFANTRY (p.115)" and it states "4. Gunner (1808), 5. Gunner (1810)". These illustrated artillery "gunner's" uniforms clearly have the same jacket collar with gold "flaming bomb" on either side.
Very hard to find item in good condition. Some insect damage to the back-side of jacket (see images); liner has been replaced. Stand included.

This item must be paid in advance with certified funds - bank check or bank money order - no credit card payments will be accepted.
This item may actually show "OUT OF STOCK" if you are attempting to use the "SHOPPING CART" method of payment or ordering; these items must be ordered by e-mail or phone and - as stated previously - must be paid in advance via bank check or bank money order.


Militia or Cadet Sword, No Scabbard
$115.00 $95.00 On Sale!
1MILITIA006A

Militia or cadet sword believed circa mid-1800s. Wood grip wrapped in leather, bound with decorative brass wire, nickel-brass composition furniture. Hilt cross-guard displays a mustachioed soldier in a plumed helmet flanked by crossed gladius-style short artillery swords, each sword displaying a star in center of their cross-guards. believe this may be a Texas Military Academy sword, I just do not know which. Wide ~1-1/8" combat-worthy blade, ~26-1/2" in length, unfullered, raised medial rib, diamond-shaped in cross-section. Overall length is ~32-1/2". Unknown maker.
Hilt is fairly tight but missing some of the leather wrap; blade tip has been reshaped and sharpened, otherwise good condition.


Patriarchs Militant Sword-Belt and Hangers
$150.00 $125.00 On Sale!
PMSWRDBLT001

Patriarchs Militant (a branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows [IOOF]) belt and hangers for their fraternal sword (not included). Believed manufactured by the Cincinnati Regalia Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Includes belt, buckle, four belt loops - two with chains and spring hooks, one with walking hook (this chain has one replacement link that is silver in color), one with a simple key-chain-hook. Metal belt loops bear the motto, "JUSTITIA UNIVERSALIS" (UNIVERSAL JUSTICE) over "PAX AUT BELLUM" (PEACE OR WAR). Buckle bears the letters "PM" for Patriarchs Militant.
All metal components (save one link) are gold gilt plate (see images).
Good condition overall.


US Military Cadet Sword with Scabbard, AMA
$195.00
USMCAD1870AMA001

This is a regulation military academy cadet sword adopted circa 1875 by various military academies and schools. This particular example sword is from AMA and could be just about anywhere (Alabama Military Academy, Augusta Military Academy, Atlanta Military Academy, etc.). Manufactured by The M.C. Lilley & Company so will date from the 1890s to about 1925.
Brass with with "AMA" cast into the guard; make have been gold gilt covered at one time as some remains over the casting.
Blade is etched with the "AMA" on one side of the blade.
Overall length in scabbard is ~34-1/2"; overall length out of scabbard is ~ 34"; blade length is ~28".
Overall condition is good; needs cleaning overall; scabbard has been painted black.


US Model 1852 Navy Officer's Sword, Presentation in 1865, no scabbard
$1,250.00 $997.50 On Sale!
10usn1852nos/maitland110a




This is an original regulation US Navy Officer's sword, presented in January 1865. Inscription on the blade implies both US Navy and Masonic connections and believe reads as follows, "Presented by 3 brothers [followed by the Masonic Grand Lodge symbol] / Boston Jany 1st 1865 to / __ MAITLAND U.S.N". This was very difficult to read/interpret but I am assuming this was a military lodge located in Boston, presenting a sword to ? Maitland by fellow lodge members for some unknown duty or service during the Civil War. That is significant. There were not many Maitlands in the US Navy during the Civil War, only three I can find in my research.

  • John Maitland enlisted in Cairo, Illinois on February 4, 1862 at the age of 32. He was born in Ireland and was a farmer by trade. He is listed as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, blue eyes, black hair, and light skinned. He was a Seaman aboard the USS Cairo, a Union ironclad.
    The USS Cairo was sunk seven miles north of Vicksburg when she came under Confederate fire. "As the gunboat turned towards shore, disaster struck. Cairo was rocked by two explosions in quick succession which tore gaping holes in the ship's hull. Within twelve minutes the ironclad sank into six (6) fathoms (36 feet) of water without any loss of life. Cairo became the first ship in history to be sunk by an electrically detonated torpedo."

  • William Maitland, Pilot 2nd Class, was assigned to the armored steamer USS Juliet and was active during the seige of Vicksburg and the failed Red River Campaign. During the Red River Campaign - William Maitland volunteered to pilot the pump-boat (steamer) Champion No.5 at Deloges Bluff; during that engagement he was wounded eight times; he was later commended for bravery by Lieutenant-Commander S.L. Phelps in a report dated June 23, 1864, recommending his promotion to Pilot 1st Class.
    I believe this to be the most noteworty and perhaps the best candidate to receive a sword presentation.

  • Edward J. Maitland, acting Ensign, 30 December, 1864. Honorably discharged 22 October, 1868. This could be John Maitland mentioned earlier.

    The question is - Were any of these Maitland notables Masons? More research is needed. Nonetheless, this is a named Civil War-era US Model 1852 Navy officers sword and very desirable; a great piece of Civil War history.

    The condition is only about fair with only parts of the ray-skin grip remaining; most of the decorative twisted-brass-wire remains. Brass furniture with USN on counter-guard. Blade has dark oxide coloration overall with scattered light pitting. Appears to have been sharpened at an earlier time.
    Overall length is ~34-1/4"; blade length is ~28-7/8".
    Unknown maker but could be a Horstmann product. Bank-edge of blade is marked, "IRON PROOF".

    NOTE: No scabbard.



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