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News Article
Interest is strong for the unusual at Gallerybfa
By Susan Emerson Nutter

Scott and Beth Brasseur of Gallerybfa have got it down to a science. The couple is known for the historic Americana they find – from photography, to flags to folk art. All year long they acquire unique items making a point to set back about 100 pieces that, come February, are put up online via eBay in an auction format. Gallerybfa has a website at www.gallerybfa.com, but they sell mainly through their online eBay store.

“We really enjoy doing our February online auction,” Scott said. “And we think collectors look forward to it as well.” Brasseur promotes the event heavily; this year sending out 1,000 postcards and 4,000-plus emails to customers and those who show an interest in this genre of collecting.

“We hold back some really cool pieces for this auction,” Scott said. “Not necessarily the most valuable items, but interesting things with the goal of offering a very diversified sale. Most of the lots are offered with reserves, with beginning prices being fair but affordable,” he adds.

The Brasseur’s are known for finding fantastic flags and several were part of their February 2018 sale. A mid-19th century hand-sewn ship’s commissioning pennant; a nautical flag made of wool fabric with cotton stars – all having been hand-cut, hand-pieced, and hand-sewn started at $875 and sold for $1,150. The pennant was actually double-sided as five cotton stars were applied to both sides of the navy blue wool canton. The pennant was very long at 64 inches, but also narrow being on 3½ inches wide.

An American flag made of wool stripes and canton with 13 cotton stars, again applied to both sides of the canton, featured the stenciled title on the hoist which read “U.S. ENSIGN No. 8 NAVY YARD NEW YORK JULY 1898 O.P. 617”. This piece of Americana started at $950 and sold for $1,625.

The flag sold with a typed card that read, “This American Flag was carried in the first Dewey Day parade at Portland, Maine, by Miss Margaret H. Power (Mrs. Leslie E. Dennison). It is donated to the Auxiliary No. 22 of Roger Wolcott Camp No. 23, U.S.W.V., by Comrade Dennison.” The flag measured 55¼ by 29 inches.

And a World War II era U.S. Army patriotic American flag banner/pennant that was 16 inches by 30 inches featured 48 stars printed on the cotton banner along with an American eagle, crossed cannon, and rifle shield. Though to have been created for an artillery group, the machine sewn banner started at $365 and sold for $787.77.

Historical images are a favorite of Scott Brasseur. Loads of interesting photography-related pieces found new homes.

“I really liked the portrait of photographer R.A. Johnson who is seen posing with his studio camera,” Brasseur said. “Rarely does the photographer show up on the other side of his camera.” This 1887 cabinet card photograph wore a pencil written description verso which read, “R.A. Johnson 1887 at Niagara Falls.” The image started at $285 and sold for $878.68.

“Images of the Civil War always do well,” Brasseur explained pointing to two examples. An 1864 Civil War CDV (carte-de-visite) standing portrait of two Union cavalry men in uniform complete with sabers, scabbards, and pistols commanded $865.

Why? Brasseur offers up, “The photograph was by Sutterly Brothers of Virginia (City), Nevada Territory making it an image of the western theater of the Civil War. There was lots of cross-over interest for collectors and scholars of the U.S. westward expansion and mining history.”

The other lot of a pair of 1869 CDV photographs were portraits and they were of Civil War Confederate “soldiers” but of a different kind. The images were of “Hero” (or possibly “Nero”) and “Spot”; two Civil War prison guard dogs. The pair was listed for $585 and sold for that amount.

Some biographical info was written on the back of each stating:

“Hero--Weight, 198 pounds; height 3 feet 2 inches; length from tip to tip, 7 feet 1-1/2 inches. This dog is a Russian Bloodhound; and was imported from Russia in about 1859, by a Southern gentleman, for sports of the arena. Soon after the breaking out of the rebellion he was seized by the rebel government, and subsequently used for guarding Union prisoners, at Libby Prison and Castle Thunder, Richmond, VA. His proportions are enormous, he is believed to be the largest dog in the world, and is possessed of prodigious strength. He has been engaged in several bear fights, and was successful in all of them.” “SPOT. Weight, 159 pounds; height, 3 feet; length from tip to tip 6 feet 4-1/2 inches. This dog is a Cuban Bloodhound; and was one of a pack of thirteen hounds (some of them, however, being the ordinary Southern hounds) used by Capt. Wirtz, at Andersonville Prison, Ga., for the purpose of recapturing Union prisoners who had escaped, and who were frequently killed or badly mutilated by these dogs. Eleven of this pack were killed by Union soldiers who went to Andersonville at about the time the war closed; the remaining two were brought North, and one of them has since died, leaving this dog the only survivor.”

These images were by J.W. Turner of Boston and were published by W.L. Goss & Co. of Massachusetts in 1869.

And of the historical items offered that were not photographs or flags, the circa 1845 early American patriotic US President Andrew Jackson portrait trinket box sold for its listed price of $550. In the shape of a miniature faux book, the box had a reverse-painted glass front and back covers. One wore the President’s portrait and was titled “Andrew Jackson”; the other a heart with the words “Forget Me Not.” When closed, the trinket box was 1 7/8 inches by 2¾ inches by 5/8 inches.

“Mrs. Harrison’s Suggestion for the Extension of the Executive Mansion, D. C. - General Plan of Buildings and Grounds Showing the Environment N. W.”; a historic Washington D.C. print compiled and drawn by Fred D. Owen, Architect sold for its listed value of $625. Mounted on a board, the image was the proposed improvements to the President’s Mansion as described by First Lady Caroline Harrison, circa 1890.

“Our research found that the First Lady of President Benjamin Harrison had asked for $550,000 for improvements to the very rundown mansion, but was only given $50,000,” Brasseur states.

Looking at all the historical material Gallerybfa offered during this online event, it is easy to understand that several items went to institutions. “It is wonderful when historic Americana like this end up in institutions so others will be able to view and enjoy these pieces,” Brasseur said.

“Our hope is that we continue to find those items people are drawn to and find interesting,” Brasseur said. “We think we accomplished that again this year, and we were very pleased with the outcome of the sale.”

www.gallerybfa.com

3/30/2018
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