Description:

Stuart James

 

J.E.B. Stuart Pleads Review of His Saber Attachment Invention

 

Single page autograph letter signed on lightly lined paper, 7.5" x 9.75". Dated "August 16, 1859", and signed by  signed by James Ewell Brown Stuart as "J.E.B. Stuart, 1st Lt. 1st Cav.". Fine condition. Accompanied by a Leather sword hanger retaining all original brass hardware, see details below, in addition to J.E.B. Stuart's Ride, Limited Edition Offset Litho by Mort Kunstler!

 

Major General J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederacy’s famed beau sabreur, justifiably is best known as the dashing commander of the Army of Northern Virginia’s cavalry units. But in October 1859, while serving as a U.S. Army lieutenant and stationed at Fort Riley in the Kansas Territory, Stuart hit “pay dirt” as an inventor. The 26-year-old Virginian filed for and eventually received U.S. Patent #25,684: “Improved Method of Attaching Sabers to Belts.” Stuart claimed that his new brass-and-leather saber hanger made it much easier for a cavalryman to quickly remove his saber, scabbard, and suspension straps from the standard army belt. The U.S. Army agreed, paid Stuart a “right to use” license fee of $5,000 ($143,000 today), and through 1864 produced thousands of the tools Stuart had invented. This letter was written to the Adj. General of the War Department notifying them of his submission of a manual for "Stuarts Sabre attachment". He noted that he submitted it to "...the Cavalry Board at Carlisle, but was not considered by them on the ground that they had no power to act on it…They however individually suggested that it would be well to submit it to you…"

 

Accompanied by an original vintage leather sword hanger retaining all original brass hardware. Straps are folded and riveted with snap hooks at ends. Leather is supple and has some light crazing. Brass hanger is marked with an Old English “U.S.” while the hinged clip is stamped “FRANKFORD ARSENAL”. This style was patented by J.E.B. Stuart in 1859. He sold the rights to the US government and it became a standard cavalry issue throughout the Civil and Indian Wars. The sword hanger was in use up until 1900 and made it easy for the trooper to disconnect the sword from the belt when it was not required.

 

Additionally accompanied by "Stuart's Ride", a large spectacular limited editon offset lithograph produced in an edition of 1750, with this one being #1704. By sight size 29" x 12", presented double matted, framed, and glazed to a completed size of 36" x 19". Hand signed by the artist Mort Kunstler at lower left , and also signed by Mort Kunster in the plate. Numbered 1704/1750. Produced on 100% rag, neutral pH heavy vellum custom-made cover stock using ten to eighteen hand-matched colors of fade resistant inks. Accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity from the artist. Fine condition with a touch of bleeding to the red mat border in one corner, not affecting the art. This lithograph has been so popular that it has been replicated as prints which is what is commonly found for sale. However note, this lot is for one of the original limited edition lithos, inclusive of the original artist certificate.

 

An important piece of Civil War history.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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