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PRESENTATION TIFFANY CAVALRY OFFICER’S SABER,

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
PRESENTATION TIFFANY CAVALRY OFFICER’S SABER,
WILLIAM D’ALTON MANN, COLONEL 7th MICHIGAN CAVALRY AND ARCHIVE FROM DIRECT FAMILY DESCENT. William d’Alton Mann (1839-1920) entered service as a captain in the 1st Michigan Cavalry September 1861, he was promoted to Lt. Col., 5th Michigan Cavalry, then full Col. of the 7th Michigan cavalry. Mann led the 7th as part of the Michigan brigade under Custer at Gettysburg. Mann’s presentation saber was given to him September 1862 by Capt. George Wellington Hunt & officers & men of the 5th Michigan Cavalry just prior to his promotion to Colonel in the 7th Michigan. Saber is a style most often sold by Tiffany w/ lg. floral brass basket hilt, floral decorated pommel, brass back strap, shark skin grip w/ dbl. twisted brass wire wrap. Steel scabbard has engraved brass mounts w/ presentation “LIEUT. COL. W. D. MANN / from / Capt. G. W. Hunt / Officers & Men / Sept. 1862”. 35" Blade made by “Collins & Co / Hartford, Conn” has fine engraved 23" patriotic panels w/ typical Tiffany used 2-3" allegorical figures. This sword has remained in direct Mann family descent till being offered now. Accompanying this sword is a cabinet card of Mann wearing this sword & cavalry uniform & helmet circa 1890. Other photographs include a group shot of Mann along w/ 6 other veterans at the 1910 reunion of survivors of the “7th Michigan cavalry” taken in Monroe, Michigan. 3 Additional photographs included of Mann postwar w/ his signature bushy beard accompany. William Mann was not only an accomplished Civil War cavalry commander; he was an inventor, author, editor & entrepreneur. He patented & produced his Mann’s Patent infantry & cavalry accoutrements & sued 30,000 units prior to his discharge in 1864. His various cartridge boxes & belts are quite common to the collectible market today. He also invented the train “sleeping car” which put him in conflict w/ the Pullman Corporation & patent disputes. Other than his exploits at Gettysburg, he is most famous for his provocative & often scandalous tell-all New York newspaper. High society members did not want their private dalliances published by Mann. Indeed, several prominent families paid him huge sums of money to be excluded for life from his publications. “Town Topics” was the most famous of early “scandal sheets” so popular in their day & today w/ modern versions such as National Inquirer. CONDITION: sword is very good overall, brass hilt & mounts have olive/mustard patina. Shark skin is complete as is wire wrap steel scabbard has several dents near drag (they can be seen in photo of Mann holding the saber). Scabbard body has mottled brown iron patina. Blade is very good w/ well discerned etching. There is an empty panel above the Collins mark where Tiffany is normally found etched. One side of ricasso is rusted & pitted, remainder of blade retains some original polish w/ scattered staining & light pitting. Photos are good to very good, the “postcard” image is soiled & stained. The 9 1/2x7 1/2" reunion photograph is missing the bottom right corner of mounting board, the image is quite sharp showing the “Custer 1910” reunion badges & neckerchiefs. One veteran sitting to the right of Mann is wearing the rare gold Custer valor medal made by Tiffany personally authorized by Gen. Custer. (02-14155/JS). $6,000-8,000.