French historical medal commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789. Medal by Jean-Bertrand Andrieu. There are some things the French are just better at then anyone else; Food, wine, fluffy dogs, storming spooky prisons and making big fancy medals. This impressive (If historically inaccurate) portrayal of the storming of the Bastille is really an impressive work of art. At about 79mm in diameter this is a large item and sure is an attention grabber...

Here is a great item for the guy who understands the importance of this unit. We recently bought a collection and this belonged to the owner. He was sent to Europe right after the war and the unit was interrogating Nazis and gauging political climate and ramifications in post war Europe. This collection was really full of unique and interesting items rarely encountered, but this plaque was actually from his unit in the 1107th ARASU. I know two things about this unit...

This picture frame is just simply gorgeous. Shows the Bavarian crown and motto "IN TREUE FEST" at the top and a general at the bottom with a Blue Max around his neck and treacherous looking lions at his sides. There are draped flags at the top and the bottom. The sides are intricate pillars showing the other German state crests. Images 6-10 show the front and back shots of a crack and two repair jobs...

Very interesting Honorable Discharge from the Army of the Confederate States. Condition is rough but I doubt many of these have survived, much less even given out as the Confederacy was never in a good position to just let trained soldiers walk away. The ink is very faded but I know "document guys" do have ways of bringing old, faded ink back to life. It is possible to make out a lot of the details, though...

This document is an affidavit stating that this soldier served in the Continental Army during the revolution. Basically it states that John Pratt of Dublin, county of Cheshire in New Hampshire served in the last three years of the war. It is signed by what looks like Joseph Atherton. After the signature this fellow states that at the time of enlistment Pratt lived in another town but I can't quite make it out...

This lovely, unique Civil War relic is out of my collection. Carved by a confedrate veteran in remembrance of the battle of First Bull Run, this pipe has every spare piece of space carved with something clever. The pipe bowl is in the shape of a bull's head with the underlined word "RUN" right between his eyes. Above this is a soaring eagle. Below this word is a southern gentleman leading Abraham Lincoln by a chain...