The Art of American Horology Part ll,...

Roosevelt Hotel, Madison Avenue @ 45th Street, Dec 04, 2002

LOT 480

Grand Army of the RepublicElgin National Watch Co., No. 4800207, Grade 74, circa 1890.Exceptionally fine and very rare, 14K gold and enamel keyless watch with an unusual case and dial.

USD 6,500 - 8,500

Sold: USD 9,200

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", by "D & Co", No. 83981, back cen-tered with polychrome enameled badge of the Grand Army of the Republic on engine turned background, reeded band, spring-loaded bezel, gold hinged cuvette. D. Enameled, outer minute track, outer-most small red Arabic hour chapter, center painted, probably repre-senting the Chattanooga battle (Nov 23-25, 1863), with the Union commander on a horse in the foreground, sunk sub-seconds, the center painted with canteen and words "We Drnk from the same Canteen". Blued steel, "Spade" hands. M. 18 size, frosted gilt, full plate, 15 jewels, straight line counterpoised lever escapement, cut-bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel Breguet balance spring. Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 54 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 14
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 21 - 01

Notes

We do not know of any other watch with a Civil War dial and case.Civil War"?but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came."-Abraham Lincoln, 2nd Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865.The Grand Army of the Republic.After the Civil War (1861-65) ended, an organization for the veterans of the Republic forces was created in 1866 in Illinois by Dr. B.F. Ste-phenson. In 1869, General Logan was elected Commander-in-Chief and moved the National Headquarters to Washington, D.C. The organization had a great influence on politics, law, and social areas of the United States and by 1890 there were almost half a million members. Memorial Day was established as a national holiday, five GAR members were later elected Preidents, and most of the Governors in the northern states were members. At one point, over one fifth of the national budget went towards veteran pensions. In many cases it was impossible to be elected to public office if one was not a Civil War veteran. The organization ceased in 1949 - it was declared closed by the six surviving members.