Posted 13 years ago
mbadgjl
(1 item)
I have this bronze letterpress block stamp that I found and I have been wondering if anyone knows anything about it. It is mounted on a block of wood that I am sure is the original piece of wood. I am assuming it is the stamp that was used to stamp the veterans papers of the Civil War. I would like to know if anyone has an idea of what it may be worth.
The insignia pertains to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a veteran’s organization that lasted from 1866 until the last member died in 1956. It was organized with posts and departments much the same way that the American Legion is now (and I think the VFW is also arranged that way). Unlike the Legion and VFW, which continues to accept veterans from later wars, the GAR only accepted union veterans of the Civil War, so it was doomed to only last as long as the civil war vets lived.
During the time it was around, it became a powerful political lobby, advocating for things like military pensions. They were also a driving force in the creation of Memorial Day - then known as “Decoration Day.”
It is a printers block used for newspapers.
I have one in my collection (an earlier one in the MOH style) that is posted on Collectors Weekly:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/23233-grand-army-of-the-republic-gar-collect?in=user
Scott