Lot 602

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Description:

U.S.S. ENTERPRISE DAMAGE CONTROL OFFICER''S SWORD, SWORD BELT, HAT, AND EPAULETTES
A spectacular set of articles belonging to Lt. Commander Herschel Albert Smith, Chief Damage Control Officer of the famed aircraft carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE. Presented here is Smith''s ceremonial U.S. Navy dress sword, 30" blade, 35 1/2" overall, with the pommel, hilt, and handguard all of brass, decorated with a perforated pattern of oak branches with the initials "U S N". The quillion and D-shaped handguard are in the form of a traditional Navy "dolphin", and the top of the pommel bear a right facing eagle surrounded by thirteen stars, indicating that the sword was manufactured after 1941. The grip is white ray skin, secured with braided brass wire, and the original brass wire4 portapee is attached at the pommel. The brass shows slight verdigris in the crevices, but otherwise shows a very fine light patina. The blade is polished mirror-bright, and bears the name "Herschel A. Smith" engraved in a 3" plaque above the six-pointed star proof mark. No other maker''s marks are present. The blade is engraved along two-thirds of its length with various floral motifs, anchors, a mast with sails, and the initials "U S N". The sword is housed in a 30 1/4" steel scabbard covered with black leather, with brass hanging loops and a brass chape featuring another "dolphin". The throat of the scabbard is engraved with Smith''s initials "H A S". The brass fitting bear a fine patina, again with light verdigris. Present with the sword are Smith''s sword belt, cocked hat, and epaulettes, all housed within a black metal case, bearing the initials "H A S" and "U.S.N." on the lid, along with a circular metal plaque, identifying the supplier as the "Wm. H. Horstmann Company, Philadelphia". The sword belt, 40 1/2" long, is black leather, decorated with navy blue and gold fabric, and featuring two fabric hanging straps with brass clasps. The buckle is of brightly-polished fire-gilt brass, and depicts an eagle and anchor within an oak wreath. Smith has scratched his name "H.A. SMITH" into the reverse of the buckle. The leather is slightly worn from use, else fine. The hat, approx. 17" x 7" x 5", is an officer''s full dress bicorne, likely of black sable, with embroidered black silk edges and a black silk cockade secured by gold ribbon and a U.S. Navy seal button on the right-hand side. The front and rear bear decorations of gold-wire filigree, and the interior bears a black silk lining, with another "W. Horstmann Company" label at center. The hat bears some contact wear at the edges of the brim and the crown, with one small tear at the rear right-hand side, else very good. The epaulettes each measure approx. 7" x 5", and are constructed of finely-braided gold wire filigree mounted atop black leather and satin pads. Each epaulette bears an oak cluster, a fouled anchor, and a brass button with a U.S.Navy seal. On both epaulettes, the leather is splitting slightly along its seams, but the braided filigree remains very bright and vibrant, with no missing "fingers", insignia, or other elements. Also present within the case are two first-day covers, one celebrating the commissioning of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE, franked aboard the ship at Norfolk on May 12, 1938, and the second celebrating the ship''s posting to Pearl Harbor, franked aboard the ship at that port on November 7, 1939, as well as a souvenir card celebrating the ships 1942 Presidential Unit Citation, featuring a photograph of the ship and a facsimile of a hand-written message from the captain, S.P. Ginder, to the crew. A Wm. Horstmann-branded brush is also present within the case. As Chief Damage Control Officer, Lt. Comdr. HERSCHEL ALBERT SMITH (USNA Class of 1922) twice saved the Enterprise during two of her most bloody battles of the Pacific War. During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on August 22, 1942, Japanese bombs blew holes in the side of the ship both above and below the waterline. Smith organized a damage control crew to stuff mattresses into the holes and reinforce the "plug" with wooden timbers. Later during the battle a Japanese bomb penetrated the stern deck and lodged in the steering mechanism, jamming the rudder and forcing the ship to steam in circles instead of heading up into the wind to receive returning fighters nearly out of fuel. Despite the searing heat, he managed to restore rudder control just in time to land the incoming fighter squadron. The ship was damaged again in the Battle of Santa Cruz in October, 1942, and again set out for Nouméa, New Caledonia before another Japanese attack in the Solomons. Included with the lot is a copy of "The Big E", by Edward P. Stafford (New York: Random House), 1962, 499pp. 4to., containing a very specific account of the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and Smith''s actions to save his ship. Aside from the minor condition issues mentioned above, these relics are in pristine condition, and are of museum quality and importance.

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February 18, 2017 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, 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