SOLID SILVER MEXICAN WAR PRESENTATION BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO MAJ. THOMAS LIVINGSTON.

SOLID SILVER MEXICAN WAR PRESENTATION BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO MAJ. THOMAS LIVINGSTON. You are bidding on a beautiful sword with a sterling silver grip, hilt and scabbard, all heavily gilted with a 31-1/2″ blue and gold blade marked by the maker “BALL, THOMPKINS & BLACK, 247 BROADWAY NEW YORK”. This sword is pictured on pages 474 and 475 in John Thillmann’s wonderful treatise Civil War Army Swords, A Study of the United States Army Swords from 1832-1865. Thillmann states “Ball, Thompkins and Black of New York was a high grade jeweler and military provisioner for officers. Very unusual and unique to Ball Thompkins and Black is the hilt style referred to as the ‘Emperor’s Head’. The Emperor’s head has a garland of laurel on his head. It is stylistically attempting to portray a hero with garlands representing the hero to whom the sword is presented.” There are few swords known by this high grade maker. This sword is one of a kind being custom made for Major Livingston. Scabbard is engraved overall with various floral motifs, as can be seen in photos. The half shell guard is made as a stylized oyster shell. The gold washed blue blade shows an eagle battling a snake along with other foliate and patriotic motifs including a 7″ panel of troops attacking a walled city which probably represents Mexico City. The presentation between two mounts on scabbard reads as follows, “Presented by the State of Illinois to Major Thomas S. Livingston, for gallant services in the late War of the United States with Mexico.” You are bidding on a state presentation to a Mexican War hero in wonderful condition. Lt. and later Maj. Thomas Livingston served for over 2 yrs. in the Mexican War. In 1839, at 20 yrs of age, Thomas Livingston departed home and family for the Old Northwest, settling as a carpenter in Alton, IL. It was there that he answered the summons to patriotic duty and joined the 3rd IL. Vol. Inf. at the outbreak of the war with Mexico. on June 22, 1846. The 3rd Reg’t. under Col. Forman trained at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. They left July 24, 1846 by way of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, then to Rio Grand landing at Camargo in Sept. 1846. Gen. Winfield Scott and Gen. Taylor’s forces were camped on the Rio Grande. Gen. Scott took the majority of Gen. Taylor’s regular troops and began to direct his attention to an attack on the city of Vera Cruz by the sea. After weeks of planning and preparing , the men and supplies were moved down the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico. They then boarded boats and attacked the city from the gulf on March 9, 1847. Vera Cruz was a walled city and it was necessary to implement battery fire to force surrender. The 3rd & 4th Reg’t under Gen. Sheilds and Gen. Patterson were among the troops engaged in battle in Vera Cruz. By April, the Reg’ts began marching to Cerro Gordo. Santa Anna was stationed in the valley with a force of 15,000. The IL. troops along with a New York reg’t decided to cut a road around Santa Anna’s forces and to attack from the rear. The battle began on April 18th. As the Mexican army fled, IL troops chased after them and came upon a retreating Santa Anna. In his carriage , he left behind his lunch of roast chicken, $18,000 in gold and his artificial leg. Several members of the 4th IL were noted in capturing the leg. The gold was turned over to the commanding officer and the chicken made a tasty treat for the battle weary soldiers. The leg was later donated to the State of IL. as one of the greatest reminders of the IL participation in the Battle of Cerro Gordo. The Battle of Cerro Gordo has often been noted as the last battle involving IL troops. Near the end of their term of service, they returned to New Orleans where they were discharged on July 18, 1847. Maj. Livingston rejoined in the 3rd Reg’t IL Vol and returned to Mexico to take part in the capture of Mexico City and the battles of Churbusco and Chapultepec. Thomas Livingston’s return from the war was conspicuously noted in the July 28th issue of the Alton, IL newspaper. PROVENANCE: Jay Altmeir CONDITION: Sword overall is in very good condition. Silver hilt, crossguard and scabbard retain most of their original gilt. The emperor’s head on pommel shows the most reductions of gold in the high areas giving it a nice two tone effect, as can bee seen in photos. The blade retains 80% of its original gilt and about 80& of its original blue. There are scattered areas of black staining and pitting. The blade has a discernible break that has been repaired about 15″ from tip. There is about a 1-1/2″ panel of etching which is now missing and covered by gilting. Scabbard has several small dents and wrinkles, especially in about a 1″ area about 10″ from the tip where the largest loss of gilt occurs on scabbard. 4-37943 JS38 (30,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2382	$0.00	SOLID SILVER MEXICAN WAR PRESENTATION BY THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO MAJ. THOMAS LIVINGSTON. You are bidding on a beautiful sword with a sterling silver grip, hilt and scabbard, all heavily gilted with a 31-1/2″ blue and gold blade marked by the maker “BALL, THOMPKINS & BLACK, 247 BROADWAY NEW YORK”. This sword is pictured on pages 474 and 475 in John Thillmann’s wonderful treatise Civil War Army Swords, A Study of the United States Army Swords from 1832-1865. Thillmann states “Ball, Thompkins and Black of New York was a high grade jeweler and military provisioner for officers. Very unusual and unique to Ball Thompkins and Black is the hilt style referred to as the ‘Emperor’s Head’. The Emperor’s head has a garland of laurel on his head. It is stylistically attempting to portray a hero with garlands representing the hero to whom the sword is presented.” There are few swords known by this high grade maker. This sword is one of a kind being custom made for Major Livingston. Scabbard is engraved overall with various floral motifs, as can be seen in photos. The half shell guard is made as a stylized oyster shell. The gold washed blue blade shows an eagle battling a snake along with other foliate and patriotic motifs including a 7″ panel of troops attacking a walled city which probably represents Mexico City. The presentation between two mounts on scabbard reads as follows, “Presented by the State of Illinois to Major Thomas S. Livingston, for gallant services in the late War of the United States with Mexico.” You are bidding on a state presentation to a Mexican War hero in wonderful condition. Lt. and later Maj. Thomas Livingston served for over 2 yrs. in the Mexican War. In 1839, at 20 yrs of age, Thomas Livingston departed home and family for the Old Northwest, settling as a carpenter in Alton, IL. It was there that he answered the summons to patriotic duty and joined the 3rd IL. Vol. Inf. at the outbreak of the war with Mexico. on June 22, 1846. The 3rd Reg’t. under Col. Forman trained at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. They left July 24, 1846 by way of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, then to Rio Grand landing at Camargo in Sept. 1846. Gen. Winfield Scott and Gen. Taylor’s forces were camped on the Rio Grande. Gen. Scott took the majority of Gen. Taylor’s regular troops and began to direct his attention to an attack on the city of Vera Cruz by the sea. After weeks of planning and preparing , the men and supplies were moved down the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico. They then boarded boats and attacked the city from the gulf on March 9, 1847. Vera Cruz was a walled city and it was necessary to implement battery fire to force surrender. The 3rd & 4th Reg’t under Gen. Sheilds and Gen. Patterson were among the troops engaged in battle in Vera Cruz. By April, the Reg’ts began marching to Cerro Gordo. Santa Anna was stationed in the valley with a force of 15,000. The IL. troops along with a New York reg’t decided to cut a road around Santa Anna’s forces and to attack from the rear. The battle began on April 18th. As the Mexican army fled, IL troops chased after them and came upon a retreating Santa Anna. In his carriage , he left behind his lunch of roast chicken, $18,000 in gold and his artificial leg. Several members of the 4th IL were noted in capturing the leg. The gold was turned over to the commanding officer and the chicken made a tasty treat for the battle weary soldiers. The leg was later donated to the State of IL. as one of the greatest reminders of the IL participation in the Battle of Cerro Gordo. The Battle of Cerro Gordo has often been noted as the last battle involving IL troops. Near the end of their term of service, they returned to New Orleans where they were discharged on July 18, 1847. Maj. Livingston rejoined in the 3rd Reg’t IL Vol and returned to Mexico to take part in the capture of Mexico City and the battles of Churbusco and Chapultepec. Thomas Livingston’s return from the war was conspicuously noted in the July 28th issue of the Alton, IL newspaper. PROVENANCE: Jay Altmeir CONDITION: Sword overall is in very good condition. Silver hilt, crossguard and scabbard retain most of their original gilt. The emperor’s head on pommel shows the most reductions of gold in the high areas giving it a nice two tone effect, as can bee seen in photos. The blade retains 80% of its original gilt and about 80& of its original blue. There are scattered areas of black staining and pitting. The blade has a discernible break that has been repaired about 15″ from tip. There is about a 1-1/2″ panel of etching which is now missing and covered by gilting. Scabbard has several small dents and wrinkles, especially in about a 1″ area about 10″ from the tip where the largest loss of gilt occurs on scabbard. 4-37943 JS38 (30,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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