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1850 US ARMY SWORD INSTRUCTION MANUAL – ORIGINAL
PRINTING AND BINDING – THE VERY SPECIMEN TRADED TO
BREMEN, GERMANY DURING THE 1850’s ERA INTERNATIONAL
MILITARY EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE – VERY NICE RARE HISTORIC
VOLUME: This edition of
THE SWORD EXERCISE
ARRANGED FOR MILITARY INSTRUCTION, written by Brevet
Major Henry C. Wayne, US Army, was printed in
Washington, by Gideon & Co. in 1850.
Retaining its original
cloth bound covers with the title imprinted on the spine
in gold leaf, and the cover bearing the title “MUSEUM”
in gold leaf, this edition has survived in very good
condition considering its age and history.
What makes this particular manual so significant is that
is was presented to Bremen, Germany as part of a system
of exchange of samples of military equipment that
existed , during the 1850’s between the United States,
Denmark, England, France, Russia, and at least two of
the German States – Prussia and Bremen. These nations
would provide complete sets of arms, accoutrements,
saddlery and the related manuals to their trading
partners and in return would receive like sets from the
others, enabling the participants to test and examine
the equipment in use at the time. The samples of the
Model 1855 era arms provided by the United States to
England still reside in the Tower of London collection
in unfired condition, and the only known surviving
example of the Model 1857
McClellan Saddle and its
related equipment is held in the collection of the
Tojusmuseet in Copenhagen, Denmark.
This manual is well
identified as having been included in the above
described exchanges. The front fly leaf has a hand
written inscription in German to the effect that the
manual was presented by the United States of North
America in May of 1858. On the second flyleaf is a
second inked inscription “B.B. c. 904” which I believe
stands for “Bremen Bibliotek” (Library of Bremen) and
the library’s catalog number. The title page is ink
stamped with the library’s seal which includes the crest
of the City of Bremen. The following page bears an ink
stamp “BREM MUSEUM”, which may explain the title on the
front cover of the manual. Perhaps this manual was once
maintained in the city’s museum in the same way other
items involved in the 1850’s exchanges are currently
maintained in the Tojusmuseet and in the Tower of London
Museum, and then it was eventually transferred to the
city library. Pasted inside the front cover is a sheet
with instructions or rules on using the library, also
printed in old German font.
Bremen, Germany's oldest port
city, was an independent city-state prior to the late 19th
Century. The city's overseas trade was significant,
particularly with the United States during the 19th
Century, so it follows that the exchange of military
equipment and arms would include even this relatively
small nation. In 1871 Bremen joined the German Empire
and with the rise of the German nation, Bremen’s
military forces were consolidated under the central
German command structure.
This manual is in remarkable condition considering the
age and the fact that it has made at least two
trans-Atlantic crossings and survived the severe damage
to Bremen during World War Two. The covers show some
light wear, with an area of discoloration on the rear
cover that is likely where a cataloging tag was glued to
the surface. The binding and spine are very strong with
no loosening, and no loss of content or integrity. All
of the pages are intact, in very good condition and
legible. The book measures 7 ľ” by 5” and consists of
62 pages and 10 folding illustrated plates.
This manual is not only a scarce
US Army manual of instruction on the use of the sword,
but is also a very rare example of the well documented
international exchanges of military equipment prior to
the American Civil War, making a significant piece of
militaria and a fine collectable volume.
SOLD
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