Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here are some of the details of a very cool estate sale held in Asheville, from acn.liveauctioneers.com:
The four lots consigned by the last remaining descendant of a young Civil War officer were, quite possibly, the most personal in Brunk Auctions July 16-17 sale. Richard Kidder Meade Jr. (1835-1862) was a U.S. Army lieutenant during the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, April 12-13, 1861. Two weeks later, Meade, a native Virginian, resigned his commission and joined the Confederate Army. The West Point graduate helped defend Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, N.C., and in early 1862, was promoted to major and assigned to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s staff. The young officer died of typhoid fever on July 31, 1862.
Included in the Meade collection was a handwritten condolence letter from Lee to Meade’s mother expressing his sorrow at “the untimely death of your gallant Son,” a man Lee called a “noble young patriot.” The one-page signed letter dated Aug. 9, 1862, sold for $15,600 (est. $4000-$8000). All selling prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
It was the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia infantry battle flag that many wanted. Possibly given to Maj. Meade’s family or acquired by him during his three battles, the hand-loomed natural dyed wool flag was the iconic symbol of the Confederacy. Phone and on-site bidders carried the flag into battle and raised it to $84,000, far above its $5,000-$10,000 estimate.
The item that brought in the most cash pre-dated the Civil War by 100 years:
It was an 18th-century map of North Carolina by Capt. John Abraham Collet. Collet, an aide-de-camp to William Tryon, royal governor of North Carolina, used survey data gathered by William Churton to complete his map. The exquisitely detailed map, 30 1/2 inches by 44 1/2 inches, served as the prototype for most maps of North Carolina for the 40 years following its creation.
One other tidbit from the sale:
Of the nine Colt revolvers in the sale, star billing went to a model 1873, .45 caliber “Peacemaker” with all its visible serial numbers matching. The revolver was accompanied by a leather U.S. Army holster and belt with brass buckle. The set hit the top of its estimate and sold for $12,000 (est. $5000-$10,000).
