December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/13/2024
Group consists of a pair of embroidered silver bullion 2nd lieutenant of infantry epaulets in their japanned tin case, a cased photograph of the officer in uniform behind which is an unmatted image of a woman, presumably his wife, along with calling card for “Mr. & Mrs. G.F. Gardiner” and a brown ink card reading “Epaulets worn in the Mexican War. S.E. Gardiner.” The epaulets have silver eagle infantry-I buttons and are marked “J. Earle Junr. & Co. / Boston,” in business by that name from 1840. Gustavus Ferdinand Gardiner was from Providence, Rhode Island, born 1809, married in 1842, and had one son, S. E. Gardiner (1844-1919,) signer of the note. Both photos are 9th plate ambrotypes: his clearly a period copy of a wartime daguerreotype, showing him in a single-breasted line officer’s frock coat. Early in 1847 he was elected 2nd lieutenant in the (First) Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, possibly Co. K. The regiment joined the main army after the fall of Mexico City, when Gardiner transferred to the 9th U.S. Infantry, also recruited in New England with a Rhode Island contingent, and on Dec. 20, 1847, was appointed 2nd Lt. in that regiment, which saw further action against guerrilla forces. He died of Typhoid Mar. 16, 1848, at San Angel, likely the small town southwest of Mexico City also known as San Anjel, now a Mexico City neighborhood. These are telling family mementos of an officer who did not return. CONDITION: Very good. Just slight tarnish to the epaulets. Image of Gardiner is good in good leatherette case. The ambrotype of the woman is poor, with flaking and old tape.
Item Dimensions: 10" X 7" X 5"