This is a remarkable run of 37 veterans' reunion ribbons from the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Association, spanning more than three decades from 1885 to 1919. The collection is displayed in two matching glass-top cases and sold together as one lot.

The 1st Massachusetts was raised in 1861 as the 14th Massachusetts Infantry and converted to heavy artillery early in 1862. The regiment spent the next two years garrisoning the forts around Washington, D.C. In the spring of 1864, it was pulled from the defenses and sent to the Army of the Potomac to serve as infantry. The "heavies" learned the cost of field service quickly. At Spotsylvania in May 1864, the regiment lost more than 400 men killed, wounded or captured. A month later, it lost almost 500 more while charging the Confederate works at Petersburg. Few regiments in the Union army suffered such losses in so short a time. The survivors stayed close after the war, and their association met twice a year, in winter and summer, well into the 20th century.

The ribbons trace that association from the 1880s, when the veterans were still men in middle age, to the last summer reunions after the First World War. Many are printed with the regiment's trefoil-and-diamond badge. The earlier examples add crossed cannon barrels lettered "FIRST HA MASS 1861 1865." Several of the 1880s ribbons are lettered in gilt and marked "VETERAN." The winter reunions were held at Boston hotels, including the American House, the United States Hotel, and the Quincy House, as well as the Essex House in Salem. The summer gatherings moved among Downer Landing and Fort Warren, Point of Pines, Glen Forest in Methuen, and, for most of the later years, Salem Willows. The last ribbon in the group is from the 51st Annual Summer Reunion at Beverly, Massachusetts, in August 1919.

Case one holds 19 ribbons:

Fifth Annual Winter Reunion, January 20, 1887

Sixth Annual Winter Reunion, February 8, 1888

Seventh Annual Winter Reunion, February 13, 1889

Annual Winter Reunion, February 8 (year partially legible, early 1890s)

11th Annual Winter Reunion, February 8, 1893

12th Annual Winter Reunion, American House, February 15, 1894

13th Annual Winter Reunion, United States Hotel, February 1895

16th Annual Winter Reunion, American House, February 10, 1898

Seventeenth Annual Re-Union, August 13, 1885 (gilt "Veteran" ribbon)

Association ribbon, February 17, 1886 (gilt "Veteran" ribbon)

Eighteenth Annual Re-Union, August 12, 1886 (gilt "Veteran" ribbon)

19th Annual Reunion, August 11, 1887

24th Annual Summer Reunion, August 11, 1892

25th Annual Summer Reunion, August 10, 1893

26th Annual Summer Reunion, Downer Landing and Fort Warren, August 16, 1894

27th Annual Summer Reunion, Point of Pines, August 1895

28th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 6, 1896

29th Annual Summer Reunion, Glen Forest, Methuen, August 5, 1897

30th Annual Summer Reunion, Glen Forest, Methuen, August 11, 1898 (with a small cloth flag attached)

Case two holds 18 ribbons:

Annual Reunion, August 10, 1899

18th Annual Winter Reunion, United States Hotel, Boston, February 12, 1900 (two examples)

34th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 14, 1902

22d Annual Winter Reunion, Essex House, Salem, February 9, 1904

23d Annual Winter Reunion, Quincy House, Boston, February 14, 1905

37th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 10, 1905

39th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 8 (1907)

40th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 13, 1908

41st Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 12, 1909

42d Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 11, 1910

43d Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 10, 1911

44th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 8, 1912

45th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 14, 1913

46th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 13, 1914

49th Annual Summer Reunion, Salem Willows, August 9, 1917

51st Annual Summer Reunion, Beverly, Massachusetts, August 1919

Eighteenth Annual Re-Union, August 12, 1886 (second example of the gilt "Veteran" ribbon)

The ribbons are mounted in cases, resting on burlap under glass, and each case has a printed placard with a short history of the regiment. They show the fading, staining, fraying and occasional small tears expected of silk ribbons more than a century old. A few have edge losses, most notably the 27th and 49th Summer Reunion ribbons. Most of the printing remains clear and legible.

Each case measures approximately 14.25 x 20.25 inches.

A rare opportunity to acquire a long, documented, and comprehensive run of Civil War reunion ribbons from one of the hardest-fought Massachusetts regiment, tracing its veterans from the 1880s to the end of their association.   [cm][ph:L]

Extra shipping charge may be required.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!