Antique 19th century Cretan Greek dagger Bichaq in the Islamic Turkish Ottoman form...

Antique, 17th-18th century, Indo Persian Islamic Mughal India gold inlaid Indian aristocrat sword, Talwar-Tulwar...

Antique Javanese Indonesian Islamic short sword - dagger Kris – Keris with old 17th–18th Century blade in 19th century mountings. The blade is hand forged with beautiful Pamor Pattern, mounted in the 19th century fittings including hilt (hulu) made of dark brown wood trembalo, in Yogyakarta style with the typical carvings. A Silvered ferrule or mendak well ornamented with granulated pattern.

Warangka: Ladrang cagok type with nice flamed Timoho wood pattern...

Antique 19th century, Civil War period, American N.C.O. or Sergeant's militia infantry officer's sword & scabbard. They were carried by sergeants who led in battle. At the onset of the Civil War, the U.S. standing Army comprised 16,000 men only. A defense force of 75,000 was created by calling up the militias. It was the militias that formed the Northern defense and response to the Southern attack. This sword dates among the earliest of these and surely saw service in the Civil War...

Antique late 19th-century silver mounted North African Islamic tribal Tuareg dagger.

Details: The dagger has a straight, double-edged, tapered iron blade with an engraved silver plate surrounding the ricasso. The intricately profiled silver handle is engraved with a geometric pattern.

The dagger is a stunning work of craftsmanship. Its straight, double-edged iron blade tapers to a fine point, making it both sharp and deadly...

Offered are two, VERY RARE, 1880's, romantically-themed advertisements printed in Germany and sold by the Bim Brothers, London. The two advertisements both feature well-dressed African American gentlemen attempting to woo and capture the exclusive attentions of pretty young African-American ladies, one via a banjo serenade and the other via an offer of lovely flowers.

The products which these advertisements were meant to endorse is unknown...

Produced as a souvenir piece for the 1884 New Orleans Exposition, this diminutive, antique, metal match holder measures just 2.5 inches high!

Marked "Pat Applied For" on its base, this darling match holder features two small black boys playing around a rather large cotton bale (the bale is labeled "COTTON").

Well-executed detail! A lovely piece seldom found in today's collectible market!

Antique 19th century Turkish Ottoman Kurdish dagger Khanjar – Jambiya.

The Jambiya features a curved, double-edged blade accentuated by a prominent medial ridge that adds to its overall strength and durability. The hilt is crafted from a high-quality horn and boasts a typical design that provides a comfortable grip and excellent control. The blade comes with a scabbard that is made of wood and covered in leather...

Rare antique, 19th-century sword in the form of the Medieval 15th-century Islamic Spanish, Al-Andalus, Nasrid Dynasty, Hispano-Moresque, Emirate of Granada, Jineta swords.

The bronze hilt is characteristic of Moorish Al-Andalus Nasrid, featuring elaborate patterns and downturned quillons shaped like stylized elephant trunks. On the outer side of the pommel, there is a recessed center with a roseate, and the script is stylized in Arabic calligraphy...

Offered is an extraordinarily rare, 1844, Warren County, Georgia, ARREST WARRANT for a SLAVE girl named Ally who is accused of drowning two young (Caucasian) girls in Sweetwater Creek, Georgia. The girls aged 7 and 10, were daughters of Thomas Roney, who filed the charge...

Offered is an extraordinarily rare, 1842, Warren County, Georgia, Apprehension Order for a SLAVE boy named Henry who is accused of committing a violent assault and battery with intent to kill.

The single page, 16" x 25" document was folded in half by its author, and the charge is written out on one side of the folded page and then completed on the back of the same side of the page (see photos)...

1892 McLoughlin Brothers, Punch & Judy series Game of Snap. Instructions in the box Lid

Measuring 33 inches long x 15 inches high, this vintage 1869, black ink, original lithograph was published as an art supplement to Appleton's Journal.

The litho was executed by John Karst with his signature appearing in the lower left hand corner. Highly detailed, the litho reproduces a bustling New Orleans' dock scene featuring numerous slaves at work.

This litho was professionally re-framed using museum-quality, acid-free materials in 2004...

Offered are two, VERY RARE, 1880's, Black Americana advertisements printed in Germany and sold by the Bim Brothers, London. The two advertisements both feature African Americans- one showcasing a family of five out for a stroll in the park, and the other featuring a group of nine folks of varying ages playing musical instruments and dancing in celebration.

The products which these advertisements were meant to endorse is unknown...

Genuine Antique here, Wonderful pair of Milk Glass "Negro Head" Toothpick Holders.. they can also be used for larger Candlesticks.. Perfect Condition and from around the 1880's

Offered is a highly-collectible, circa 1860's, Staffordshire earthenware, pictorial plate featuring a scene from the enormously popular, 1852 novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe...

Pair of antique 18-19th century Islamic Ottoman North Africa, Arab iron prick spurs, entirely formed of hand forged iron with U-shaped heel bands with slotted rectangular terminals formed with a tall rectangular loop in the center, moulded necks and characteristically long spikes, surface inlaid with silver koftgari interlaced scrolling foliage.

Approximate measurements: Overall length: 29.5 cm (11.61 inches) and the second spur measure 28 cm (11.02 inches).

CONDITION: Showing age an...

Offered is an utterly fabulous, one-of-a-kind, 1880s, piece of original artwork by Edward West Merrill (1841-1910) of Concord, New Hampshire.

Merrill, known for creating extraordinary art collages of cut paper, cut birch bark, ink, and watercolor mounted on black construction weight paper, fashioned this particular piece depicting the fictional African-American Blackville Debating Society, by encompassing all of these preferred artistic mediums.

One can see the beautiful grain of the white...

Authentic Ancient Luristan bronze Sword circa 1200 -1000 BC. A flanged hilt and blade finely cast in one piece. A very fine example of an authentic Ancient Luristan bronze dagger, of elegant form, from the Bronze Age circa 1200 -1000 BC. A tapering double-edged blade, a shaped hilt with an elliptical pommel, hollowed on each face for a pair of grip-scales. In the period when the sword was used, the handle would have had a bone or wooden insert, but these never survive three thousand years of t...

An exceptional antique 19th century circa 1840 A.D. French Romantic dagger – stiletto in the Neo-Renaissance style with an ornate gold gilt bronze hilt and scabbard.

The beautifully executed gold gilt bronze hilt is in the form of a sculpture depicting a high-ranking musketeer's officer of the guard of Henry III, King of France, and Poland. The sculpture is well-modeled with superb, fine, hand-chiseled details.

The musketeer is dressed in a typical late 16th-century elaborate muskete...

The Five Jolly Darkies Way Down in Old Virginia, The Old Plantation, Made by W. S. Reed Toy Co., Leominster, MA circa 1880/1890, wooden toy. Measures 9" x 6.5" x 2" deep. Only thing missing the handle for the crank but another can easily be placed on it Condition is very good

Exquisite gold damascened antique, 18th-19th century, Indo - Persian Islamic axe, entirely made of well hand-forged steel, including a large crescent-shaped blade, decorated on each side with hand-chiseled cartouches with Arabic "nasta'liq"calligraphy among scrolled arabesques and highlighted by a gold koftgari inlay including the edges of the blade.

The protruding rear-hammer and central block are also chiseled with calligraphic scripts and highlighted in gold koftgari (worn) and surmount...

Offered is a rarely found, Ca 1890s, celluloid and brass mourning brooch featuring a handsome, young African American man.

Housed in an ornate, brass frame, the mourning pin measures 1 1/8th inch in diameter.

The celluloid image is quite crisp with some staining evident in left lower and side edges that do not obstruct the gentleman's image. The magnified photos emphasize this staining to a much greater degree than what is evident when viewed with just the naked eye. The brooch is missing it...

A very important Royal Islamic Indian personal short sword, Talwar - Tulwar, owned by King Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar Shah (1769-1827), the Nawab of Oudh (Awadh), early 19th century (circa 1818).

Link to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghazi-ud-Din_Haidar_Shah

The right side of the blade is decorated with an intricate and exquisite gold inlay at the base, depicting the Royal Emblem of The Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar Shah, the Nawab of Oudh (Awadh). The elaborate emblem is composed of a roy...

Antique 18th -19th century, Chinese or Vietnamese, large combat polearm partisan in the form of the spear or lance.

A leaf-shaped blade made of hand-forged iron with a visible forge layered lamination structure, engraved on both sides with scrolled decorations. The long stout tang with a faceted block is fitted into its original red lacquered bamboo pole (shortened) with a large, ribbed bronze ferrule.

These types of spears of identical forms were used in China and Vietnam. So, in many ...

A very rare and important antique, circa 1850 -1920 AD, museum-quality Islamic Middle Eastern - Arabian, Arab sword "Saif" in the form of the Indo-Persian saber shamshir in a characteristic Arab style.

The sword is mounted in solid 22k gold.

A hilt comprises a grip with camel bone grip scales, enclosed by solid gold straps and wrapped in a solid gold wire at the base, rising to a solid gold cup-pommel, jeweled with faceted synthetic ruby stone.

Solid silver crossguard with bud-s...

Antique Islamic, Yemeni, Arab dagger, Khanjar Jambiya with a belt, 19th century, Yemen.

A tribal pattern is engraved on a shaped hilt made of two sheets of low-grade silver alloy, which are bounded in the middle by an embossed brass strap.

The outer side and the pommel are ornamented with embossed brass rosettes, and the base is mounted in the embossed iron ferrule.

Jambiya is mounted with a broad, slightly curved, double-edged blade formed with a pronounced medial ridge on each ...

Antique late 19th century Islamic, North African Maghrebi, "Arabic Moroccan dagger Jambiya Koummya." A curved tapering double-edged steel blade with, stamped on the ricasso makers mark in the form of the flower head. A wooden grip of characteristic form, enclosed in low-grade silver alloy chiseled with arabesques. low-grade silver alloy scabbard, chiseled with and foliage and arabesques.

REFERENCES:

1. A similar Moroccan koummya Jambiya is published in the book Les Armes Blanches du Mo...

Very rare to still find in tact as these would have been broken to retrieve the money. Circa 1890 Measures approx 4" Tall and 3" Wide

Majiang game made of bone (buffalo) and bamboo. Longfeng style. Sold in an ancient hongmu box
34 types of 4 identical tiles ; complete with replacement tiles for the 4 missing ones. 2 bone dice. Expected wear and tear, good condition, nice patina. Qing Dy. Tiles : 2,5 x 2, h : 1,6 cms

Antique 16th century European large boar spear - pike head, extremely well made of hand forged steel, with a broad leaf-shaped blade with a strongly pronounced medial ridge on each side, extending down a tapered tubular socket and struck with the maker's mark on one side and pierced with two holes for the pins to be fastened to the wooden pole.

The boar spear name referred to a polearm with a broad leaf-shaped blade with a strongly pronounced medial ridge. This type of spear was used from t...

Rare black schist Hindu Temple carving of Bhairava riding his dog, I have handled hundreds of these temple statues and this is the only one of these I ever found especially in black stone . Beautifully carved with a wonderful patina , this is from my personal stash and would hate to part with it but I am listing everything. size 18" by 12"weight 25 pounds

Antique Indian tribal Banjara patchwork textile, composed of multi-colored, intricately hand embroidered elements and small mirrors in typical Banjara motifs, Western India Rajasthan or Gujarat. It is most likely a fragment of a tent covering that was turned into a decorative tapestry in the 20th century.

This is a remarkable piece of antique Indian tribal Banjara patchwork textile crafted with great care and attention. The fabric is composed of various multi-colored, intricately hand-e...

This is a remarkable antique Indian Hindu silver figure of a horse from the 18th to 19th century. The figure is a true work of art, comprising several soldered-together silver elements, including intricately detailed legs, ears, tail, body, and base. This figure is even more remarkable because it is hollow, indicating the level of craftsmanship that went into its creation.

It's worth noting that in Hindu mythology, the horse holds great significance as it is considered to be the vehicle o...

A vintage 19th century Mauchline ware wooden souvenir string or thread holder depicting a view of Carlingford, Ireland with a photo transfer. This 2-1/2" tall box is 3-1/4" across the base and it has a bone (probably) eye through which the string can be drawn. This souvenir is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, losses, damage or repairs. All items are thoroughly and conservatively graded and all condition issues are noted; all items are vintage or antique and may have slight sig...

This is a very rare and early McLoughlin Bros Puzzle, Circa 1875. Both actual puzzle are very incomplete, see pictures of bits left. The box is original and superb condition Box Measures Approx - 8.5" Wide x 10.5" Long x 1.7" Depth

This is a very collectible American coin silver souvenir spoon comprised of a flared handle, the top having a detailed bust of Christopher Columbus, the rim framed by the words 1492 Columbus 1892 and WORLDS FAIR written down the shaft of the handle, circa 1892, maker's mark on the back of the spoon A1 Coin Silver Co.; Measurements- 4 5/8 inches long; Condition-Excellent

An unusual accessory for your cow horn living room suite - this is a late 19th century 8-1/4" pipe or cigar rest and ashtray made of genuine cowhorn. This item features a cowhorn base held with a nut and bolt, and a brass rest for a pipe or cigar. Dating to the 1880s, this unusual smoking collectible is in very good original condition with no cracks, corrosion, losses, damage or repairs other than a crack from use and drying in the "bowl", some minor downward bending to the (formerly curved) r...

What can I say about this item... for hose who have everything!!! This is an 1890's one of kind large Black Americana Toy. There will not be another of these... turn the handle (a little stiff) and the Boys will do a jig. The old Box lid is marked "Members of the Lime Kiln Club" and "Old Kentucky Home". The Lime-Kiln Club was a fictitious fraternal organization of African-Americans created by a Journalist/Writer in the late 1800's Open the lid and there are 6 fantastic characters.. ...

Very Rare 19th century figural bronze cigar cutter with a woman picking apples carved in high relief on one side and a tree on the opposing side. Measures 7 inches long.

Unique Burmese/Lanna Thai excavated gray terra cotta pipe bowl from Chiang Mai, in the shape of an elephant’s head. Clay pipes are fairly ubiquitous archeological artifacts found throughout much of the “Golden Triangle” and have been dated as far back as 12thCE Pagan, Burma. I can find no references of them being produced by any of the well documented Thai kiln sites, so in a way these are quite enigmatic in that they seem to be everywhere but no one knows where they are fr...

A true antique Victorian hand carved waxed meerschaum clay pipe in the form of a cuffed hand holding a bowl. This 4-5/8" smoking accessory features the original pressed amber mouthpiece, the silver plated brass ferrule and the ornately carved cuffed hand and bowl. This example has the warm brown colour found on waxed examples. As an option, quality tobacconists and pipesellers offered a custom waxed finish, a labour intensive preservative and enhancement feature. This one has the typical lig...

A McCamus Bobcaygeon Ontario medicine chemical bottle circa 1900. This 2-3/4" high (with lid) medicine or chemical bottle with the original paper label has a turned wooden mushroom cap. Thomas McCamus (b.1860) was the son of Wm. McCamus, a druggist in Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada (in the 1881 census, he was listed as a clerk, presumably in his father's druggist and chemist store, which he must have later taken over as indicated by his name on the label). The printed label states: T. McCAMUS, ...

An antique pair of Niagara falls souvenir milk glass spills or mantle vases. These vintage 6" inch tall vases have sprayed-on green colour and hand painted scenes of the falls with thickly dabbed white "foam". The legend SOUVENIR OF NIAGARA FALLS is painted in gold, and these vases show the roughness, straw marks and flaws typical of such souvenir ware. The glass was usually made of stock moulds and was quickly and inexpensively produced. These vases would have been undecorated blanks original...

This wonderful, late 19th / early 20th century photograph of students and teacher from a New England, one-room school house measures 10 x 8 inches including mat. Actual size of the sepia toned photo is 8 x 5 inches. The subjects are posed on the stairs in front of the schoolhouse porch or veranda. The ten young gentlemen in the front row, while quite fashionably attired, don’t appeared to be very enthusiastic about their participation in this photography session! Look at those faces!

Co...

Measuring 12.25 inches long x 8 inches in width, this two-sided, 19th century estate document listing all of the worldly goods of LEWIS MATTAIR is de-accessioned from the inventory of the ill-fated Middle Passage Museum (see museum history below). The document is undated but is estimated to be circa 1865-66 based on current research of federal and state archival documents.

This particular estate document is extraordinarily unique and atypical in comparison to other estate documents of this per...

Offered is a bucolic and beautifully-colored, medium-folio, copyrighted 1854, Nathaniel Currier, New York, lithograph entitled, "Catching A Trout". The image measures approximately 10" x 14", and depicts a fancily-dressed African-American man "netting" the trout caught by one of the two well-dressed gentleman enjoying a relaxing day of fishing. This Currier + Ives lithograph is infrequently found, and is quite highly collectible.

Condition of the litho is considered very good given the rich co...

A fabulously detailed, historical graphic of the California State Seal adds to the importance of this authentic, museum-quality, 1899, TEACHING LICENSE / DIPLOMA issued by the STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY, DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Josephine Downey on October 21, 1899, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by Thomas Kirsh, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary. ...

Offered is an antique, hand-personalized and hand-signed, school merit award, circa 1860's.

The artistically-rendered award was presented to student, Eleanor R. Russell, and signed by her teacher, Angie M. Gibson.

The framed and matted merit award measures 8 inches wide x 10 inches long and is adorned with a delicate, hand-colored, floral wreath. The award features a poem of religious sentiment: "Tis sweet oh sweet to know, if we our time improve, we shall be happy while below, and dwell i...

An ornately detailed and historical graphic of the California State Seal adds to the importance of this authentic and extremely RARE, museum-quality, 1859, TEACHING and PRINCIPAL’s LICENSE / DIPLOMA / CERTIFICATE issued by the STATE OF CALIFORNIA, and the City and County of SAN FRANCISCO, DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, just 9 years after California became the 31st state!

Text indicates that this early Principal and Teaching Certification was awarded to Mr. O. P. Sarle on January 5, 1...

Avon Cape Cod napkins rings. 4 to the box. In very good to excellent condition.

Measuring 7.75" tall with a bell diameter of 4" at its base, this fabulous, C1870's, school teacher's, hand-held bell sports a wonderful, all-original, vintage patina.

This solid, 1/8" thick bell gives its ring the classic resonance one would expect to hear in a 19th century bell - a sound that would carry a good distance announcing the start of the school day!

The top of the bell features a decorative 3 rimmed edging. The bell retains its original black-painted wooden handle, and iron cla...

Charming Antique French Marble and Ormoly Standish with a young bacchante reclining and reading a book. Circa 1860-70.

Dimensions: 8.25" x 7"

The book, THOMPSON IN AFRICA or AN ACCOUNT OF THE MISSIONARY LABORS, SUFFERINGS, TRAVELS, AND OBSERVATIONS is the compilation of the journal kept by missionary George Thompson while working at the Mendi Mission in Sierra Leone, Africa, during the period 1848-1851. This is a second edition published in 1852, printed for the author by William Harned, 48 Beekman Street, New York City (the first edition was published in 1851).

George Thompson’s missionary service to Africa occurs approximate...

Offered are a fabulous variety grouping of VERY RARELY FOUND, 1880's, Black Americana die cuts printed in Germany and sold by the Bim Brothers, London.

The assortment features die cuts of musicians, jugglers, a boxer, actors, a bagpipe player, comically portrayed African natives, and die cut heads of adults as well as die cut heads of children. All but the four African die cuts remain connected as a grouping, just as they were when originally produced and shipped from the factory- a very rare...

Offered are two, highly-collectible, circa 1860-70's, earthenware, pictorial plates featuring two scenes from the enormously popular, 1852, novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Life Among the Lowly", is an anti-slavery novel that was published in two volumes and which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African-Americans and slavery in the U.S. It is said to have "helped lay the groundwork for the American Civil War".

Each plate is priced separate...

An exceptional example of 19th century Folk Art-- a very rare needlework cross stitch sampler with Black Americana theme! This highly unusual example dates to circa 1880's and depicts two young girls on a primitive, “make-do” seesaw--- a wooden board placed over a log-- complete with a grapevine trellis in the background! This wonderful piece is accented with a multi-toned, Greek Key border design with fringe edging.

The needlework measures approximately 15 by 14 inches and is in good cond...

Elaborate graphics which include the California State Seal adds to the importance of this authentic, museum-quality, 1892, TEACHING LICENSE / DIPLOMA issued by the STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY, DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Mary L. Downey on January 15, 1892, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by 5 members of the California State Board of Education.

Further documentation...

A detailed and historical, 19th century, school "Certificate of Distinction" from the "Albemarle Female Institute of Charlottesville, Virginia"!

Text indicates that the certificate was awarded to Emma Shannon on June 12, 1885 (Or 1883--difficult to read as the date is partially concealed under the frame edge). The certificate recognizes that Emma excelled in Latin, Arithmetic, History of France, Rhetoric, and English Literature. Signed by W. P. Dickinson, President of the Faculty.

With t...

An educational tool pairing that spans a century!

Offered are two school slates, both designed to support children's learning, either while in school or at home.

The C1870 school slate was commonly known as a book slate as it is constructed of two separate slates that are bound together on one side allowing the slates to open and close like a book. This construction also allows the bound slates to stand freely on a flat surface. Each slate measures 7" wide x 9' long, and are framed in wood...