Massachusetts Historical Memorabilia

Antique United States Navy 48 Star Union Jack, circa 1912, a scarce early, World War I era US Navy Jack with 48 embroidered stars on a cobalt field, flown on the bow of Navy, Coast G...

Original program for the Nantucket Stage Company Production of "Dracula", signed by Edward Gorey, 1973. The Nantucket Stage Company (which became the Stra...

Antique Louis XIV Siege of Arras floor screen, 19th century, a four panel screen with paper lithograph laid down on wooden panels, depicting the schematic pla...

A large crest with shell and scroll carved frame enclosing an azure ground with gilded coat of arms featuring a cross with four birds over lions and fleur de lis and Tudor roses. Onl...

Wonderfully nostalgic white ironstone shaving mug is faintly labeled "Shaving Mug" on the front. Shaving the old fashion way.

Japanese made entirely from wood, this antique was used mainly as a juicer for fruits. L:25in(63.5cm) H:16in(40.6cm).

A military grade forged metal shovel with a protective leather cover used by the Swiss Army mountaineers during World War II.

Award trophy of famous yachtsman and tea merchant Sir Thomas J Lipton. Engraved plate reads Sir Thomas J Lipton - Boys and Girls Club Sportsmanship award, Optomist Branch, Michael Mo...

Framed series of American modern pen and ink drawings, sixteen portraits of Boston "pols" and Italian American civic leaders, all of whom were the famous 'Friends of Joe Tecce's' of the eponymously named restaurant in Boston's North End. The frame is sixteen feet long by one foot tall...

Framed crest with Latin inscription " Spero Meliora". Translates to I hope for better things. Seems to relate to the Moffat Clan of Scotland.

Antique Hand Colored Photograph of Nantucket Street Scene by Marshall Gardiner (1884-1942), circa 1910, a period hand tinted photograph entitled "Nantucket Shearing Cart and Quakers" showing classic grey shingled houses on a cobblestone paved street, with a couple in horse drawn cart riding away from the viewer, and four women on doorstep and sidewalk, all dressed in period Quaker attire. It is interesting to note that the couple in cart are seated on antique Nantucket Bow Back Windsor chairs. The photograph was titled and hand signed in pencil across the bottom of the old acid foxed mat; the photograph is now mounted in new archival acid free matting, and a photocopy of the original pencil inscription has been preserved on the reverse. The photograph itself remains in excellent condition. H. Marshall Gardiner (1884-1942) was born on September 18, 1884 in Windsor, Ontario, and immigrated to the United States circa 1890, where his father W.H. Gardiner opened two photographic studios, one in Detroit during the winter months and a second at Mackinac Island during the more tourist-oriented summer months. Recognizing the potential of Florida's rapidly growing tourist trade, around 1894-95 he moved with his family from Detroit to Daytona, Florida which proved much more accommodating to the family's photographic business during the colder winter months. Marshall learned many of his photographic techniques from his father prior to going out on his own at a relatively early age. Whereas his father generally used wet collodian negatives, technology had advanced to where he was able to use gelatin dry plates in his earlier years, and later the less expensive and much more convenient roll film. Another very important lesson learned from his father was strategy of setting up shop in a tourist resort. Early in his career he traveled to Bermuda where he shot a series of beautiful Bermuda scenes that he hand-colored and successfully sold over a number of years to the local tourist trade. Around 1910, at the age of around 24, he first traveled to the island of Nantucket. The year-round population of Nantucket was then just over 2500, not nearly enough to sustain a photographic business for the entire year, so he opened a joint Photography and Art Supplies Store. Working as Nantucket's exclusive agent for Eastman Kodak, his business expanded to include the island's only photo-finishing service. However, with such a small year-round population, even the addition of a Gift Shop to compliment the hand-painted photographs, general portrait...

Framed with a rampant lion within an ermine robe. Michael Kittredge Collection.

Three mounted and giltwood framed chromolithograph plates from L'Ornement Polychrome: Motifs de tous les styles, art ancien et asiatique, Moyen Age, Renaissance, XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, by A. Racinet, 1869-1873. Published by Firmin-Didot, Paris. Specifically, the three framed plates are Middle Ages, Renaissance and 17th century. This reference work “created to render major services to our industrial arts” brings the archeological art...

Period First Empire portrait of the Sisters Julie and Desiree Clary, Future Queens of Spain and Sweden by Robert Jacques Francois Lefevre (1755...

Very rare 19th century Mayhew Family tree from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, lithograph on paper laid on linen, printed in 1855, in form of liter...

Cherry Smash was a fountain syrup made from cherry syrup which soda jerks mixed with carbonated water. Founded in 1901 by John E. Fowler of Richmond Va. In...

Exceptional nautical library clock and barometer. This item has an awesome carved dolphyns in sea grass supporting the clock and barometer. A trident spear rises from the top. Plynth...

Polished and lacquered water pressure gauge by General Fire Extinguisher Company, Providence Plant. Mounted to an iron stand. Circa 1920. 10" H x 7" W x 7" D. 5 lbs.

Painted crest featuring Britannia with scenes of places and things.

Red painted and possibly a hat makers sign. With a chain strap and button.

1891 map of Norfolk county Massachusetts including the towns of Wrentham, Franklin, Medfield, Sherborn, Norwood etc., measures: 23 x 31.