Description:

SURGICAL KIT FROM A VETERAN CONFEDERATE SURGEON
A great rarity, a nearly-complete surgical kit owned and very likely used by THEODORE S. HEMINGWAY, SR (1835-1898), a surgeon in the 4th Regiment, South Carolina Cavalry. Hemingway's division saw the heaviest casualties of all of the eight South Carolina cavalry units, with 260 men wounded and killed in action. In fact, the unit contained less than 200 men when it surrendered with the Army of the Tennessee. This high-quality set, cased to 21 x 11.5 x 4 in., was made by the renowned manufacturer H. Windler Berlin, one of the most respected medical equipment makers of the 19th century. It consists of over 60 steel instruments, most with ebony handles, including all types of saws, scalpels, retractors, clamps, tubes, probes, a trepanning saw, tweezers, and syringes. It even contains a 1 in. ball of period woolen felt! These instruments are all housed in a black linen-bound case with brass corner protectors, lined with purple felt and bearing Hemingway's brass plaque on the cover. Fine with a small number of missing instruments. While it's impossible to say whether this kit accompanied Hemingway during his service with the Confederate cavalry, it is certain that the maker was manufacturing these items during the Civil War and the entire kit and contents are contemporary to the era. Surgical kits this extensive, especially when associated with a Confederate surgeon, are rarely seen.

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May 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000