Silver Baskethilt Sword for comment

NeilUK · 7th February 2024, 11:40 AM

I don't know if it will help but The American Arts Association held an auction in 1924 in which the collection of arms and armour of Henry Griffith Keasbey was sold. Apparently a mere $240 will get you a copy of the catalogue!
Neil

Jim McDougall · 7th February 2024, 03:05 PM

Brilliant Neil!!!! Thats some super sluething, thank you.

It is so intriguing to look into the 'golden age' of arms collecting, when valuable arms and armor were considered art and became part of amazing collections whose documentation formed the corpus of material for their study.

As you note, these early catalogs and references are exceedingly rare as they typically had short runs in publishing, so understandably are expensive in the rare cases they are offered.

While most of the material has been placed in subsequent works on the various types of items in accord with the topic, it is amazing to actually hold and peruse these old references, sort of a visit into time with the old sages of arms

There is NOTHING like the scent of old books!

NeilUK · 9th February 2024, 05:37 PM

Please forgive this slight detour into old A&A catalogues. I would hope that the Keasbey cat. might explain the mark. Unfortunately I do not possess a copy of the said cat. (wish I did as there were some choice weapons in the collection, apparently). i do have a few old cats, earliest 1927, and more modern ones - they tend to be cheaper than the actual arms and armour!
Neil

Jim McDougall · 9th February 2024, 07:00 PM

Not at all Neil!
These old catalogs are some of the most valuable references ever!
I remember back in the old days (B.C. =before computers), and before much of the great references we use these days were around, some of the mail order catalogues were our key means of identifying things.
One that comes to mind were those of "The Museum of Historical Arms" (Hoffman Brothers, Florida, 1970s) which even today are often sought after in old book sellers holdings.
As you note, these old catalogs are antiques in their own right, and command some pretty hefty prices....the items shown in them.....uh, outa the universe in price if even ever offered.

7th February 2024, 03:05 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Keasbey Catalogue Brilliant Neil!!!! Thats some super sluething, thank you. It is so intriguing to look into the 'golden age' of arms collecting, when valuable arms and armor were considered art and became part of amazing collections whose documentation formed the corpus of material for their study. As you note, these early catalogs and references are exceedingly rare as they typically had short runs in publishing, so understandably are expensive in the rare cases they are offered. While most of the material has been placed in subsequent works on the various types of items in accord with the topic, it is amazing to actually hold and peruse these old references, sort of a visit into time with the old sages of arms There is NOTHING like the scent of old books!

7th February 2024, 11:40 AM	#1
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 122	I don't know if it will help but The American Arts Association held an auction in 1924 in which the collection of arms and armour of Henry Griffith Keasbey was sold. Apparently a mere $240 will get you a copy of the catalogue! Neil

9th February 2024, 05:37 PM	#3
NeilUK Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scotland Posts: 122	Please forgive this slight detour into old A&A catalogues. I would hope that the Keasbey cat. might explain the mark. Unfortunately I do not possess a copy of the said cat. (wish I did as there were some choice weapons in the collection, apparently). i do have a few old cats, earliest 1927, and more modern ones - they tend to be cheaper than the actual arms and armour! Neil

9th February 2024, 07:00 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	Not at all Neil! These old catalogs are some of the most valuable references ever! I remember back in the old days (B.C. =before computers), and before much of the great references we use these days were around, some of the mail order catalogues were our key means of identifying things. One that comes to mind were those of "The Museum of Historical Arms" (Hoffman Brothers, Florida, 1970s) which even today are often sought after in old book sellers holdings. As you note, these old catalogs are antiques in their own right, and command some pretty hefty prices....the items shown in them.....uh, outa the universe in price if even ever offered.