Lot 137
(Farragut, Rear Admiral David) Documentation for Tiffany Presentation Sword. David Farragut (1801-70) was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He commanded the Union blockade of Southern ports, helped capture New Orleans and provided support for General Ulysses S. Grant's siege of Vicksburg. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. A collection of six items related to the Tiffany sword presented to Admiral David Farragut in June 1864. (1) Invoice for $1,000, on Tiffany& Co. letterhead, for "Presentation Sword 'Admiral Farragut'" sold to Members of Union League Club, New York, May 31, 1864. (2) 12½ x 8" ruled paper, headed "Subscription to a Sword to be presented to Admiral Farragut by his friends in the City of New York," with signatures of 27 men and the amounts they paid, including Charles Lewis Tiffany ("C.L. Tiffany"), who founded New York City's Tiffany & Co. in 1837. (3) Copy of a letter to Rear Admiral Farragut from the Committee on Presentation, listing the 27 names of the subscribers. (4) Invoice on plain paper for $5.00 for engraving on parchment the letter to Farragut. (5) Clerical copy of the letter which accompanied the sword, from Brig. Gen. James Bowen to Rear Admiral David Farragut, New Orleans, June 14, 1864. (6) Clerical copy of Farragut's response, datelined U.S. Flag Ship Hartford, West Gulf Squadron, Off Mobile Bay, June 18, 1864, giving his thanks for the sword and saying he is "watching over the interests of our country and literally watching its enemies who like hawks are ready to pounce upon us at the first unguarded moment…." The beautiful Tiffany sword presented to Rear Admiral David G. Farragut by members of the Union League Club in New York on April 23, 1864 is in the Smithsonian Institute. Estimate $800 - 1,000
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| Realized $1,260 |
