S McKibben Posted January 12, 2012 Share #1 Posted January 12, 2012 I picked this up this weekend and have not been able to find much about it.It has a loop to hang from a necklace and is double sided.Its marked made by CS Cole & Co. Chicago ILL Any one seen one of these before or have any idea of the age?The lady I got it from says it was from the 1880's?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBeyer Posted January 13, 2012 Share #2 Posted January 13, 2012 With the sentiment "Only a few of us left", I would think that it would date from somewhere in the 1920s - 1950s. I doubt that it ever hung from a necklace, but would rather suggest that it was hung like a badge, or a medal, from a ribbon which was most likely red, white, and blue or perhaps blue and gray. Although, with the dual Union flags on the back, I suspect that it wasn't from a reunion of both Federal and Confederate Veterans. Seeing as both soldiers are wounded veterans it might have been from a meeting of wounded Civil War veterans, although, again, this is just speculation. Regardless, I think that it is an interesting piece and I appreciate you sharing it. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted January 13, 2012 Share #3 Posted January 13, 2012 That beautiful thing got me curious - it "seemed" like it belonged to some sort of medal, rather than necklace. So, I did an online scrounge for CS Cole & Co. (found almost nothing except that the family may have been jewelers in the 1870s on southside Chicago) - but came across some photos of CW pieces remarkably similar hanging off of ribbons, I believe all three of these were for reunions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S McKibben Posted January 13, 2012 Author Share #4 Posted January 13, 2012 Thanks Guys.It seems there really isnt much info out there on this type of item. Shawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Championhilz Posted January 13, 2012 Share #5 Posted January 13, 2012 Well, I don't know what organization this badge is for, but I did find another copy of it for sale on Ebay: http://www.ebay.ph/itm/ONLY-FEW-US-LEFT-Ci...e-/220826824869 This one is made by a different manufacturer than yours - hopefully some information on this badge will turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCF-Collector Posted January 16, 2012 Share #6 Posted January 16, 2012 I don't think this is a Blue/Gray piece. Those drops often have wounded/disabled soldiers on them, but the uniforms are distinctively Blue/Gray to match the occasion. Below of pictures of a BG drop (sorry for the poor quality - kept coming out too bright). Both soldiers are disabled on this drop. Notice the very similar backs (flags). This one is 1.25" across. It was made by Whitehead & Hoag. I do not recognize the maker on your piece, but a jeweler could certainly have made something like this. The construction would make me think it's older than the piece I've shown above (which is undated BTW). I find the soldiers on your drop very interesting in terms of how they are illustrated. For starters, the presence of the drum is kind of odd/different. But more curious to me is the way the uniforms are colored - you can almost see pen/pencil brush strokes. The "painting" of the scene is also in general kind of rough. That tends to support the theory that it was jeweler design/made (just an opinion). As for the "Only a Few of Us Left", that's fairly common. I tend to agree that logically the statement would appear/exist post 1900 as the Veteran ranks started to shrink more rapidly, but enough were gone pre-1900 that it was likely used. I'm fairly certain I've seen it on pre-1900 pieces. These definitely hung from a ribbon on a badge. There are two rings - the larger being used to drape the ribbon through and back up to the top-bar where it is stitched together. An interesting tidbit for the conversation. I did a quick search and learned that the "Only a Few of Us Left" was also the motto of the United Indian War Veterans organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBeyer Posted January 16, 2012 Share #7 Posted January 16, 2012 A quick web search finds that C S Cole & Co Chicago, Illinois, was in business at least as early as 1895 and they made badges into at least the early 1900s. Otherwise I couldn't find much information on the company. (So I guess my original guess was way off!) Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S McKibben Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted January 16, 2012 Thanks for all the info guys. I know nothing about the civil war or collectibles. It was a neat piece so thought I should pick it up. Thanks Shawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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