An absolutely irreplaceable period assemblage of four significant flag fragment from some of the most important Battles of the Civil War.
The group originally assembled by Paul Ambrose Oliver [1831-1912]. Oliver was one of the most significant explosives and munitions experts engaged in the Union cause. Originally enlisted in the 12th Infantry, New York, as a Second Lieutenant, his talent with munitions became evident almost immediately. In this capacity, as traveling munitions expert, he served no less than four Generals, i.e. Generals Daniel Butterfield, George Meade, Joseph Hooker, Gouverneur K. Warren. He was offered further promotion, but refused, preferring his work with explosives. By the end of the War he had been appointed the rank, Brevet Grade, Brigadier General. Authenticity unconditionally guaranteed.
He was present at some of the most significant moments of the War, including Gettysburg, and began collecting flag fragments as mementos of significant events.
The present assemblage, stored in period envelopes each docketed in Oliver's hand, have been passed without intermission down through the Oliver family and are offered here as a complete collection. It is evident from one of the docketed slips that there were at one time perhaps a few more examples, but they are no longer extant. The collection has now been stabilized for future preservation in an archival faux morocco sleeve and mineral blue boards.
The examples included represent flags collected at:
Siege of Fort Sumter. April 15, 1861.
Battle of Gettysburg. July 3, 1863.
Battle at Fredericksburg. May, 1863.
Battle at Ringgold, Georgia. December, 1863.
Ephemera from the seminal exchange of the War, the Siege of Fort Sumter, is exceptionally rare. We trace no flag fragments at auction from this important event with any convincing provenance. A similar flag example from Gettysburg with similarly excellent provenance sold at Heritage Auctions in 2015 for just under $9,000 with commissions. We also trace no similar examples for Fredericksburg and Ringgold.
Conservatively price and a very finely presented and irreplaceable contemporary assemblage in fine condition.
