The Civil War Collector's Guide: 11th Edition

By the editors of North South Trader's Civil War
Illustrated, price guide, artifact categories, notes, 288 pp., 2006. North South Trader's Civil War, P.O. Drawer 631, Orange, VA 22960, $37.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Dale E. Biever
Dale E. Biever received his M.Ed. in American history from Kutztown University. He is past vice president for administration and former member of the Board of Governors of the Company of Military Historians. A retired educator, he was registrar at the Civil War Library and Museum in Philadelphia.

Review:
Every three years since 1974 the staff of North South Trader's Civil War (NSTCW) magazine has published a price guide for collectors. It must be remembered that from the beginning of this work that it is a guide to give collectors the average current market values.

Prices were arrived at by using average realized sales from a large number of dealers and collectors with acceptable reputations. The numbers listed in this book are reflective of real sales and not inflated asking figures. Prices will be found outside those noted in the guide.

It is also important as one goes through the categories to understand that the values are generally for objects that are in fine to excellent condition unless otherwise noted.

The staff of NSTCW presents some background information which the reader will find useful. There are a number of introductory sections which include articles on market trends, getting started, relic hunting clubs and battlefield preservation. A sizable section covers the care of relics and how to deal with both excavated and non-excavated material.

Restoration and display is discussed as well as ethics, etiquette and the law. The subject of fakes and reproductions is a "must read." Six pages are devoted to this problem and failure to guard against it can be extremely costly to the buyer. Five suggestions aid the collector and a report lists the most recent fakes that have surfaced. Six pages give the collector a list of some dealer contacts with addresses, e-mail and Web sites.

The heart of the 11th edition is the numerous categories that reflect the major areas of collecting. Over 30 sections and sub-sections give the value ranges in such areas as accoutrement plates, bayonets, bullets, buttons, canteens, excavated artifacts, edged weapons and firearms, flags, horse gear, paper goods, uniforms and headgear, slave tags and veterans' material.

There is an interesting section on civilian jewelry and a section on non-military issue objects such as stencils, grooming aides, watches and religious items.

At the end of the Civil War sections there is an addition with Revolutionary War and War of 1812 material. While not a complete listing, it gives general coverage to American, British, French, German and Dutch arms, buttons, accoutrement plates/badges and some uniforms.

Each section has an introduction which gives some general information on the subject covered. Recommendations are also given for publications on the relics in question so that the collector can broaden his/her knowledge in that specific area. The staff does a great job warning where fakes are appearing and how to recognize them.

In a category such as buttons or accoutrement plates the values are given for excavated and non-excavated. Figures for artillery projectiles are in the good to excellent range. Condition in just about every case will determine the final value.

A large number of object photos are found throughout the publication. There is a page on bullet base marks. Tokens are graded from VG-F to uncirculated. Stamps are also graded in average-good to fine-very fine for both used and unused issues. The section on artillery projectiles gives such data as caliber, type and weight.

The photography is excellent and the text is well-written. Paper is high quality and, although a softcover, it will withstand considerable use. The guide includes a nine-page list of recommended reading along with a cross index and an advertising index.

The staff of NSTCW "tells it like it is" for Civil War memorabilia and its related values and is to be commended for their work. Use of this reference should not be limited to Civil War collectors and dealers. It should be in the libraries of museums and historical societies for research and insurance upgrading. It would also be an excellent addition to the general Civil War library.

A big thanks to NSTCW for a "maximum effort."