This item is an outstanding, rare find, and original Confederate Canteen. John Geiselman obtained it from the Zinkham Collection of Gettysburg items. It is in great condition with attractive original gray color and has never been cleaned; it must have been recovered soon after the battle. Made of light gauge tin, all solder joints are tight and secure and is airtight but for one small pinhole on one side. Otherwise, it most likely could be used today. It measures approximately 4-¼ inches in diameter and 2-½ inches thick and probably holds about 20 ounces of liquid. Based on the size of this canteen, it could have been a liquor container. The spout is firmly and securely soldered to the body and most likely, at one time had a cork stopper. There are two small loops for a sling; one has some excess solder and appears to have been repaired years ago. The canteen body has only very minor dents and scratches from use; none detract from this wonderful canteen's appearance. There are old handwritten letters ("XLOX / MYFX") in black ink on one side above the pinhole most likely from an inventory system from the Zinkham Collection. This piece was identified in John Geiselman's collection by a contemporary handwritten tag. It would make an excellent centerpiece for a Confederate, Civil War, or Gettysburg collection.

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The Horse Soldier is pleased to offer a number of items from the John P. Geiselman collection, a collection that was on display for many years at the Geiselman Country Store Museum on Barlow - Two Taverns Road. Geiselman began his collecting as a child in the early 1920s, and during the pre-World II period had access to artifacts that had been purchased earlier at the estate sales of the Trostle, Rogers, Rose, Weikert, and Wentz farms - local properties that figured prominently in the battle and its aftermath. During this period he had access as well to the Hill , Plank, and Stewart collections, and was able to acquire other items that had been sold from turn-of-the-century relics establishments such as the Danner, Ziegler, and Oak Ridge Museums. Furthermore, Geiselman carefully documented most artifacts, and collectors perusing the list will be able to note, in many instances, not only the source of the relic and the date of its recovery, but also the part of the battlefield from which it came. In other words, his collection is the last major grouping of Gettysburg artifacts assembled and documented by a local resident.

This item is on sale for 10% off of the listed price.