Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

[Ken Knopp]

Now selling on ebay!!! http://bit.ly/bmXBIp

The saddle purported to have been the one John Pelham was riding when shot at Kelly's Ford in March 1863! It can be found in Howard Crouch's excellent book "Horse Equipment of the Civil War Era".
I am not sure about the post war history of this saddle and have never handled it but it certainly is of period construction and apparently has some "provenance". "If" it is in fact the saddle Pelham was shot from then it was likley NOT his. The story goes that Pelam had been on leave for a few days of R & R. When he heard of the fighting he decided on a whim to accompany some soldiers into the fray and borrowed a horse. In a charge a shellburst fragment struck him in the head. The horse he was riding was borrowed so it is likely so was the saddle. I do not know the full story so maybe someone can fill it in better than my feeble attempt.
Still, it is great piece and quite unusual to see something this nice on ebay. My thanks to Mike Ventura for bringing this to my attention.

Ken R Knopp
confederatesaddles.com

Just in case the above link does not work....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil-War-Confederate-Saddle-Provenance-/250654517141?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5c2c6795#ht_1406wt_1139

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

wasn't aware that Pelham was "martyred"....

Bryant Roberts/ fightin' the old south lost cause propaganda machine since 1997

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

Historical Reference Deleted by poster.

Sorry Ken for posting in the CAV forum.

CJ Rideout
Tampa, Florida

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

Ken,

Several years ago, I attended a memorial service in Alabama at the gravesite of "the Gallant Pelham" and the locals tell the story with a bit more "military dash" than that, but it does all culminate with the fatal blow from the shell fragment. Only 24 years old!!

Anyway, with the outrageous prices that we have seen of late, what do you think it would take to buy this saddle? You know they will spin it that it was his personal saddle and he was never more than 50 feet from it all during the war, etc.

Also, please define what you mean when you say "provenance"?

thanks for the info,
respectfully,
Mark

[Mike_Schramm]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

I believe this refers to #2 for Provenance:

1. Place of origin; derivation.
2.
a. The history of the ownership of an object, especially when documented or authenticated. Used of artworks, antiques, and books.
b. The records or documents authenticating such an object or the history of its ownership.


YHS,

Mike Schramm

[rogue]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

Cannot speak to the authenticity of the saddle, but it is comforting that Pelham's id coin fashioned from a US coin shows up on eBay at least a half dozen times a year.
Let the buyer beware.
S.Sullivan

[Mike Ventura]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

The thread on eBay has some of the provenance....http://bit.ly/bmXBIp

[Mark Choate]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

So Mike, are you making a strong bid on this saddle??

Would make a nice conversation piece on your yacht.

Mark

[Spinster]

Re: Ebay Gem- John Pelham's saddle.... if ya got the cash!

Mike, I know a museum feller that would build a nice case around that thing and air condition it for you. Just in case there is not enough space in your saddle room.....

One of you fellers gets it, I'm really more interested in looking at the blankie.........