2023-03 HCA Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2023
A very rare relic recovered at the notorious Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia, a very crude, camp-made identity disc in the shape of a shield, composed of cast pewter or another lead composition. The disc, 1 3/4" tall, bears a small hole at top to allow a string to pass through, and a slightly larger hole at bottom which is a casting flaw. The disc bears a very worn, hand-scratched name which we can best make out as: "B. Shippey". In examining Andersonville records, a "Eugene Shippey" was officially reported to have died at Andersonville, but this is disputed as it was later believed that he died in 1907 and he was confused with "F. Shippey" The report, included, concludes: "Military records may have conflicting information". The tag offered here clearly bears a "B" as the first initial, thus explaining the confused records - and perhaps finally identifying the martyr lost at Andersonville. The tag is accompanied by a ca. 1920s business card of relic and gun dealer and gunsmith "T. Ford War Relics Bought and Sold" of Charlestown, Mass. Both sides of the card bear period handwriting describing Andersonville, conditions there, etc. but regrettably not mentioning the relic.
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