This is an auction catalog preview and more information/photographs are forthcoming. 

 

An extensive family archive of Samuel Leeds (1837-1913), who served during the entirety of the Civil War, mustering into the 16th Massachusetts Infantry as a private and mustering out of service in the 11th Massachusetts Infantry as a sergeant.

 

Significantly, the collection includes the actual bullet that wounded Leeds during the Battle of Seven Pines. Additionally, this large collection of 48 items provides an archive of material related to Samuel Leeds himself as well as his wife, children, and extended family. Grouped within this collection are five (5) photographs of Samuel Leeds, seven (7) Civil War effects pertaining to Leeds, and three (3) medals & recognition. Additionally, are twenty-six (26) photographs of the Leeds family with identifications, and seven (7) various memorabilia items from the family. 

 

Samuel Leeds (1836-1913) was born in Belmont, Massachusetts, and worked as a shoemaker up until the war when at the age of 24, he enlisted and mustered into Company C of the 16th Massachusetts Infantry on 12 December 1861. After being wounded in the Battle of Seven Pines on 18 June 1862, Leeds would be mustered out of service until enlistment on 23 December 1863. He would again join the 16th Massachusetts Infantry, this time as a promoted corporal. On 11 July 1864, Leeds mustered into Company E of the 11th Massachusetts Infantry, where he would be promoted to sergeant just a few months later. After many years of service, Leeds mustered out for a final time on 14 July 1865, where he would return to his home in Belmont, Massachusetts, acting as a member of G.A.R. post #161. 

 

A detailed list of the items within their groupings is as follows 

 

1. (5) Samuel Leeds photographs:

 

Sixth plate half-length studio portrait daguerrotype. [Massachusetts]: N.p., [1852]. Brass matting. Subject identified on slip of paper behind plate. 

 

Ninth plate half-length studio portrait daguerreotype. [Massachusetts]: N.p., 1856. Brass matting. Subject identified as “Samuel Leeds 1856” on slip of paper behind plate. 

 

Sixth plate half-length studio portrait ambrotype. [Massachusetts]: N.p., 1858. Brass matting. Subject identified as “Samuel Leeds 1858” on slip of paper behind plate. 

 

Sixth plate three quarter-length studio portrait tintype. N.p., 1863. Brass matting. Union campsite studio backdrop with American flag in view. Subject identified as “Samuel Leeds 1863” on a slip of paper behind plate. 

 

Three quarter-length albumen CDV studio portrait. Boston, Massachusetts: Miller & Rowell, n.d. Photographer’s imprint printed to mount verso. Period pencil inscription to verso identifies the subjects as “Grandpa + Grandma Leeds, soon after he came home from the War.”

2. (7) Civil war effects:

    (1) Metal US compass

    (1) Tiny druggist box with Minitor & Meriment shrapnel with period identification

    (1) Wooden dowel with leather strap

    (1) Bullet casing 

    (1) Inkwell carried by Leeds during the war.

    (1) Two bullets from when Leeds was injured in Virginia 

    (1) Leather tobacco clutch 

 

3. Medals and Recognition:

    (1) Chromolithographed escutcheon for Samuel Leeds, 16th and 11th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment. ENHANCED WITH tintype portrait of Leeds and completed in manuscript. Handsomely framed. Approximately 22 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. visible, housed in a 23 1/4 x 17 1/2 in. frame.

Outstanding example of a Civil War solider's memorial that features a genuine wartime tintype photograph of the deceased soldier in uniform. One of the nicest examples we have ever encountered, these memorial prints were popular among loved ones of fallen Union soldiers. Mass produced due to the high casualty numbers of Civil War battles, they were printed with space for the family or an artist to fill in the soldier's identifying details. Some, like this example, provided space to attach a photograph.

 

    (1) Grand Army of the Republic medal. Made of cannon bronze, the badge depicts sailors and soldiers clasping hands, flanked by the flag and an eagle. Each corner of the star points contains emblems of different arms of service. Surrounding the center is inscribed “Grand Army of the Republic, 1861 Veterans - 1866” commemorating the close of the war and the founding of the Veteran’s order. 

    (1) Filii Veteranorum badge. Made of bronze and attached to a red, white, and blue ribbon. Badge depicts an eagle resting on top of laurels and flanked by cannons. In the center of the badge is a V interlocking with an S, surrounded by the engraving: “GRATIA/ DEI/ SERVATUS / MDCCCLXXXI.”

 

4. Leeds Family Photos:

    (2) Ninth plate ambrotypes in full leatherette case. 

    (2) Oval wooden framed lithograph portraits of Samuel Leeds and Mary Leeds. 

    (1) Ninth plate ambrotype in full leatherette case with mother-of-pearl detail. 

    (1) Sixth plate ambrotype in brass matting. 

    (2) Ninth plate ambrotype in brass matting. 

    (1) Quarter plate daguerrotype in half leatherette case. 

    (1) Gem-sized tintype in full leatherette case. 

    (1) Ninth plate tintype in full leatherette case. 

    (1) Tintype in brass matting with unknown ambrotype concealed. 

 
    (1) Gem-sized tintype in brass matting. 

    (1) Ninth plate tintype loose. 

    (1) CDV-sized tintype in brass matting. 

 
    (1) Quarter plate tintype in brass matting. 

 
    (4) Gem-sized tintypes affixed to CDV-sized cardstock mounts. 

 
    (5) CDVs, one which is noted to have been carried by Samuel Leeds throughout the entirety of the war. 

    (1) Matted cabinet card

5. Leeds family memorabilia:

    (1) Manual of Woburn Cemetery. 6 x 9 inch booklet containing cemetery plots and certificates of purchases made for Mary Leeds and Samuel Leeds’ gravesites. 

    (2) Medals awarded to Fred B. Leeds for Punctuality & Deportment (1871-1872). 

    (1) U.S. Gov. coin from the World’s Columbia Exposition in Chicago 1893. 

    (1) Peace coin documenting WWI dates (1914-1918). 

    (1) Fred B. Leeds Druggist Woburn Mass medal. 

    (1) Presented photobook to Fred B. Leeds

 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Photography, Early Photography, Historic Photography, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes, Cased Images, Union Cases, Albumen Photographs, CDVs, Carte de Visites, Cartes de Visite, Carte-de-visite, Cartes-de-visite, CDV, Cabinet Cards, Stereoviews, Stereocards][Medals, Corps Badges, Badges]