IMPORTANT GOLD WEDDING LOCKET AND MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF CIVIL WAR BRIGADIER GENERAL CYRUS B. COMSTOCK, SENIOR AIDE-DE-CAMP AND CHIEF ENGINEER ON GEN. U.S. GRANT’S STAFF.

IMPORTANT GOLD WEDDING LOCKET AND MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF CIVIL WAR BRIGADIER GENERAL CYRUS B. COMSTOCK, SENIOR AIDE-DE-CAMP AND CHIEF ENGINEER ON GEN. U.S. GRANT’S STAFF. Wonderful 18 karat gold locket, 1-5/8″ x 1-1/4″ with fleur-de-lis style loop at the top suspended from a black velvet ribbon with engraved gold ends and a small gold chain with hook for attaching around the neck. Front of the locket is mounted with a cross having a fleur-de-lis at the end of each arm with a total of twelve small cut diamonds and a total of twelve small cut sapphires. Locket cover is hinged to the left with a glass cover over the small oil on ivory portrait. Extensive provenance and biographical material accompanies this beautiful 18 karat gold locket containing a miniature painting that was presented by Brig. Gen. Cyrus Ballou Comstock to his fiance upon the announcement of their engagement on November 11, 1868. The gold locket has a sapphire and diamond cross on the front cover and an enameled stylized abstract butterfly on the reverse. Engraved inside the front cover is C.B.C. (Cyrus Ballou Comstock) to B.B. (Beth Blair)November 11, 1868. When opened there is a very well executed miniature, oil on ivory, bust portrait of Brig. Gen. Comstock in his Civil War Brig. Gen.’s tunic. They married on February 3, 1869. While the portrait is not signed there is circumstantial evidence that it may have been painted by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Whistler was Comstock’s roommate at West Point until Whistler’s departure during his Junior year. He famously used a stylized butterfly formed of his initials (similar to the one enameled on this locket) as his signature during the mid-19th C. and actually published a book on abstract butterflies. It is also known that Whistler did do some miniatures. The oil on ivory portrait of Comstock is in Whistler’s style. James Abbott McNeill Whistler (Whistler’s Mother) is one of America’s iconic and most sought after artists. Whistler was sent to Christ Church Hall School with his mother’s hopes that he would enter the ministry. Whistler was seldom without his sketchbook and was popular with his classmates for his caricatures. However, after it became clear that a career in religion did not suit him, he applied to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his father had taught drawing, and other relatives had attended. On the strength of his family legacy at the Academy, and despite his extreme nearsightedness and poor health history, he was admitted to the highly selective institution. Sharing a room with Comstock during his three years there, his grades were barely satisfactory, and he was a very poor cadet at drill and dress. Known as “Curly” for his hair length, which exceeded regulations, Whistler bucked authority, spouted sarcastic comments, and racked up demerits. His major accomplishment was learning drawing and map making from American artist Robert W. Weir. Whistler and Comstock were close colleagues. His departure from West Point seems to have been precipitated by a failure in a chemistry exam, however, a separate anecdote suggests misconduct in drawing class as the reason for Whistler’s departure. Whistler, of course, went on to become one of America’s greatest painters. The gold locket was presented by General Comstock to his fiance Elizabeth (Beth) Blair, granddaughter of Francis Preston Blair, Sr., the first United States Postmaster General, editor of the Washington Globe, a democratic party organ and he was the organizer of the Hampton Roads Peace Conference with President Lincoln on February 3, 1865. Elizabeth was the daughter of Montgomery Blair, Lincoln’s Postmaster General. The Blair-Lee house in Washington D.C. is where Robert E. Lee met with Francis Preston Blair, Jr. (Elizabeth’s uncle) in early 1861 to offer him command of Federal forces and now remains as the principal guest house for important dignitaries visiting the President of the United States. Brig. Gen. Cyrus Ballou Comstock (February 3, 1831 – May 29, 1910) was a career officer in the Regular Army of the United States. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1855, Comstock served with the Army Corps of Engineers. At the beginning of the American Civil War, he assisted with the fortification of Washington, D.C. In 1862 he transferred to the field becoming chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863 during the Siege of Vicksburg, he served as the chief engineer for the Army of the Tennessee. The most significant accomplishment of Comstock’s career began in November 1864 when he was appointed to the staff of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, becoming Grant’s senior aide-de-camp. In 1865, Comstock was appointed the senior engineer in the assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and the assault on Mobile, Alabama, both of which were successful. By the end of the war, Comstock had earned the awards of the honorary grades of Brevet Maj. Gen. in the Volunteer Army and Brevet Brig. Gen. in the Regular Army. After the close of the war, Comstock served on the military commission for the trial of the conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He was dismissed from the commission for his criticism of the proceedings. Later Comstock continued with the Army Corps of Engineers, took part in several engineering projects, and served on the Mississippi River Commission, of which he was president. Comstock is depicted in several well-known and published Civil War photographs by Gardner and O’Sullivan. Sadly, his wife Beth perished during childbirth on August 6, 1872. Comstock never married again. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a fine miniature portrait of General Comstock, probably by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and a very personal possession of a family who made significant impacts on the American Civil War. Accompanied by a soft braided gold chain with modern clasp. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Locket is complete and intact with all of the orig blue enamel in the butterfly on the back and beautiful stones on the front. Portrait is completely intact with bright vivid colors. Ribbon shows light wear but is serviceable. Chain is fine. 4-44097 CW2 (12,500-27,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2216	$25,875.00	IMPORTANT GOLD WEDDING LOCKET AND MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF CIVIL WAR BRIGADIER GENERAL CYRUS B. COMSTOCK, SENIOR AIDE-DE-CAMP AND CHIEF ENGINEER ON GEN. U.S. GRANT’S STAFF. Wonderful 18 karat gold locket, 1-5/8″ x 1-1/4″ with fleur-de-lis style loop at the top suspended from a black velvet ribbon with engraved gold ends and a small gold chain with hook for attaching around the neck. Front of the locket is mounted with a cross having a fleur-de-lis at the end of each arm with a total of twelve small cut diamonds and a total of twelve small cut sapphires. Locket cover is hinged to the left with a glass cover over the small oil on ivory portrait. Extensive provenance and biographical material accompanies this beautiful 18 karat gold locket containing a miniature painting that was presented by Brig. Gen. Cyrus Ballou Comstock to his fiance upon the announcement of their engagement on November 11, 1868. The gold locket has a sapphire and diamond cross on the front cover and an enameled stylized abstract butterfly on the reverse. Engraved inside the front cover is C.B.C. (Cyrus Ballou Comstock) to B.B. (Beth Blair)November 11, 1868. When opened there is a very well executed miniature, oil on ivory, bust portrait of Brig. Gen. Comstock in his Civil War Brig. Gen.’s tunic. They married on February 3, 1869. While the portrait is not signed there is circumstantial evidence that it may have been painted by James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Whistler was Comstock’s roommate at West Point until Whistler’s departure during his Junior year. He famously used a stylized butterfly formed of his initials (similar to the one enameled on this locket) as his signature during the mid-19th C. and actually published a book on abstract butterflies. It is also known that Whistler did do some miniatures. The oil on ivory portrait of Comstock is in Whistler’s style. James Abbott McNeill Whistler (Whistler’s Mother) is one of America’s iconic and most sought after artists. Whistler was sent to Christ Church Hall School with his mother’s hopes that he would enter the ministry. Whistler was seldom without his sketchbook and was popular with his classmates for his caricatures. However, after it became clear that a career in religion did not suit him, he applied to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his father had taught drawing, and other relatives had attended. On the strength of his family legacy at the Academy, and despite his extreme nearsightedness and poor health history, he was admitted to the highly selective institution. Sharing a room with Comstock during his three years there, his grades were barely satisfactory, and he was a very poor cadet at drill and dress. Known as “Curly” for his hair length, which exceeded regulations, Whistler bucked authority, spouted sarcastic comments, and racked up demerits. His major accomplishment was learning drawing and map making from American artist Robert W. Weir. Whistler and Comstock were close colleagues. His departure from West Point seems to have been precipitated by a failure in a chemistry exam, however, a separate anecdote suggests misconduct in drawing class as the reason for Whistler’s departure. Whistler, of course, went on to become one of America’s greatest painters. The gold locket was presented by General Comstock to his fiance Elizabeth (Beth) Blair, granddaughter of Francis Preston Blair, Sr., the first United States Postmaster General, editor of the Washington Globe, a democratic party organ and he was the organizer of the Hampton Roads Peace Conference with President Lincoln on February 3, 1865. Elizabeth was the daughter of Montgomery Blair, Lincoln’s Postmaster General. The Blair-Lee house in Washington D.C. is where Robert E. Lee met with Francis Preston Blair, Jr. (Elizabeth’s uncle) in early 1861 to offer him command of Federal forces and now remains as the principal guest house for important dignitaries visiting the President of the United States. Brig. Gen. Cyrus Ballou Comstock (February 3, 1831 – May 29, 1910) was a career officer in the Regular Army of the United States. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1855, Comstock served with the Army Corps of Engineers. At the beginning of the American Civil War, he assisted with the fortification of Washington, D.C. In 1862 he transferred to the field becoming chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. In 1863 during the Siege of Vicksburg, he served as the chief engineer for the Army of the Tennessee. The most significant accomplishment of Comstock’s career began in November 1864 when he was appointed to the staff of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, becoming Grant’s senior aide-de-camp. In 1865, Comstock was appointed the senior engineer in the assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, and the assault on Mobile, Alabama, both of which were successful. By the end of the war, Comstock had earned the awards of the honorary grades of Brevet Maj. Gen. in the Volunteer Army and Brevet Brig. Gen. in the Regular Army. After the close of the war, Comstock served on the military commission for the trial of the conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He was dismissed from the commission for his criticism of the proceedings. Later Comstock continued with the Army Corps of Engineers, took part in several engineering projects, and served on the Mississippi River Commission, of which he was president. Comstock is depicted in several well-known and published Civil War photographs by Gardner and O’Sullivan. Sadly, his wife Beth perished during childbirth on August 6, 1872. Comstock never married again. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a fine miniature portrait of General Comstock, probably by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and a very personal possession of a family who made significant impacts on the American Civil War. Accompanied by a soft braided gold chain with modern clasp. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Locket is complete and intact with all of the orig blue enamel in the butterfly on the back and beautiful stones on the front. Portrait is completely intact with bright vivid colors. Ribbon shows light wear but is serviceable. Chain is fine. 4-44097 CW2 (12,500-27,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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