The set consists of four intact Gettysburg battlefield recovered bullets and what appears to be a fused group of several more mounted on a flat rectangular wood base with beveled front edge reading along the upper edge: “Collection of Relics from Battlefield” and on the lower, flat, front edge the location of the finds noted: “SEMINARY RIDGE” with the battle and date in a separately applied stamp: “GETTYSBURG / JULY 1.2.3. 1863.” These are mounted very simply with nails. Four are Minie balls, three showing some distortion from actually being fired and one likely a “drop.” The remaining piece appears to be several bullets fused together by a fire. One of the intact bullets has a short stem indicating it is a Williams Patent Type-I “cleaner” bullet. These were fitted with zinc disks at the base that would expand and clean the rifle bore when fired.

These small relic displays were very popular as desk sets among visiting tourists and veterans. This one is characteristic of John Good who produced these here in Gettysburg about 1895-1915 and bears a light date in pencil on the underside that appears to be “1913,” with something else lightly written above it. See O’Donnell, Hazard and Boardman, Gettysburg Battlefield Relics and Souvenirs for the story of these and similar creations that often sought to create something combining the artistic, the historic, and the useful. They were popular souvenirs and, for veterans, likely more meaningful mementos.
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