Misc. Dug Items
Misc. Non-Dug Items
Civil War Cartridge Box Plates
This page last updated February 03, 2012
EMAIL Phone: 804-873-5462
Plez Bagby
PO Box 6425
Charlottesville, VA 22906
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PC3961 US Cartridge Box Plate This US cartridge box plate is from the collection of a well known and highly respected digger, collector, and author of "Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795 - 1874". The brass face of the plate shows the long tall letters "US" on a very pleasing brown patina. The brass has no cracks, breaks, or repairs. It does, however, have an unusual and interesting bend above the "U". While I don't know exactly what caused this substantial bend, one might conclude that it was struck by something long, long ago given the consistency of the patina in this area and the curvature of the bend. This bend is definitely not a digger's digging tool mistake. The lead is also still complete behind the bend as well as the rest of the rear of the plate. Only one hook remains but it is solid and straight up. This is clearly an early excavated plate that is in very good condition. The labels on the rear indicate that it was recovered from the Hanover Junction / North Anna, VA. area. This plate will make an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War plate or general relic collection. Approx. 55 x 85 mm. $150.00 Order Information or Questions? SALE PENDING |
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PC4041 V.M.I. Cartridge Box Plate - 1/3 Portion Excavated This Virginia Military Institute cartridge box plate is the union of approximately 1/3 original excavated plate and 2/3 reproduction plate. The original portion is the letter "I", including both periods to either side and a portion of the right side of the "M". There are two examples of VMI box plates pictured in Steve Mullinax's book "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates", 1st edition, on page 216 (also in "Expanded Edition" of same book on page 240), one with periods in-between the letters and one without periods. The plate with periods and an iron back, such as this 1/3 portion, is is undoubtedly rarer than the lead filled VMI (no periods) cartridge box plate with only 3 other known examples. Now there are 3 1/3 known examples! The original portion was recovered in the early 1980's by a gentleman while working in his garden located in Brownsburg, VA. Brownsburg is situated just north of Lexington , VA, where VMI is located. Brownsburg was on the back road to Staunton, VA and was used extensively by the VMI cadets for long marches during training during the 1840s and 50s, the period this plate was used. It is this same route used by a portion of Gen. Hunter's army as it marched toward Lexington intent on destroying the VMI shortly after the CS victory at New Market. In May of 1864, Lt. Col. Scott Shipp, (age 24) VMI Commandant of Cadets, marched his 257 cadets (ages15-26) 81 miles in four days, from Lexington to New Market, VA to meet up with General Breckinridge's Confederate force. On May 15 the Battle of New Market took place leaving 48 cadets wounded and 10 dead. This was, however, a Confederate victory. With the exception of Civil War era VMI buttons, other VMI Civil War artifacts from the war, are nearly impossible to recover or even find available for collecting. Finding even a portion of a VMI plate is considered "a find of a lifetime", finding a complete example is hitting a grand slam in the world series. This rare piece of VMI Keydet Civil War history will be an excellent addition to any Civil War plate or VMI collection. Approx. 42 x 71 mm. $635.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC3877 US Cartridge Box Plate This US cartridge box plate is in very good condition and is complete. Written on the back of this plate, presumably by the digger, is: "FOUND MARCH OF 1973 IN THE WILDERNESS" and "No. 1" most likely indicating either his first box plate recovery or his first from the Wilderness. The brass face of this plate, with its very pleasing even chocolate brown patina, has the big bold letters "US". The rear has a nearly complete compliment of solder with some flaking at the edges. Both iron attachment loops are present, complete and straight up. This plate has no cracks, breaks, bends, or repairs. $225.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC1239 Cartridge Box Plate Marked "W H Smith Brooklyn" This excavated US cartridge box plate is in excellent condition and has its manufacture's mark of "W H SMITH BROOKLYN". Digging a US cartridge box plate is difficult enough these days but finding one with a manufacturer's stamp is ten times harder. This plate was recovered in Caroline County, VA in the area of the battle of North Anna. The face of the plate shows the big bold letters "US" which are typical of Smith's plates. The brass has front has aged into a very pleasant green-brown patina and is basically flawless. The upper edge of the middle section of the "S" shows a slight tiny bit of original brass. The rear has full lead and both iron attachment loops which are slightly rusty but solid, complete, and straight up. The "W H SMITH BROOKLYN" mark, which is high lighted with baby powder, shows every letter clearly with the exception of the "K". The plate has no cracks, breaks, bends or repairs and will make an excellent addition to any Civil War plate or general excavated relic collection. Approx. 55 x 87 mm. $325.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC3766 US Cartridge Box Plate This excavated US cartridge box plate is complete and in good condition. Its brass face has an absolutely stunning chocolate brown patina showing well defined letters "US". The rim at the ten o'clock position to the left of the "U" is slightly curled upwards. The rear has full solder and both hooks are present and bent. This plate shows wear and clearly got some use! This very handsome boxplate has no cracks, breaks, repairs, or other major bends and will make a nice addition to any excavated Civil War relic collection. Approx. 54 x 85 mm. $185.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC2675 US Cartridge Box Plate This excavated US cartridge box plate is an interesting relic. The plate is complete with both of its iron attachment hooks still in place and upright, but it is missing most of its solder fill. I do not believe this is a case of the solder being melted out as there is no other indications of it being heated or in a fire. I thought that the missing solder may be a result of the use of a combination of substandard solder and moist soil that it may have rested in for decades causing the solder to rot away. This, however, would not explain why the iron hooks didn't rot away as well since these are usually the first to go in moist soil. We may never know the answer to this mystery. The brass face appears to have a brown patina still covered by a light covering of the soil in which it was recovered. The only flaw I can find (with the exception of missing solder) is a hairline crack at the rim at the end with the "S". There are no bends, repairs or other cracks. This plate will make an very nice excavated display piece in any collection. 56 x 88 mm. $135.00 Order Information or Questions? |
