Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
EXTREMELY RARE CIVIL WAR “MILLIGAN’S PATENT MESS KETTLE” FOR OFFICERS
02-19977
John G. Milligan advertised his ingenious field mess kit in October 1862 in New York Times. It must have been popular as excavated pieces are found in Civil War camp sites throughout 1863-1864. Reading thousands of soldiers letters over the years, food and food preparation are common topics and complaints. Priced at $12 and advertised as a mess for four officers, this no doubt was a good value and popular in the field. There were other manufacturers of similar items, but Milligan’s unique design fit everything into a compact container Just 12×11.5×10”, 15 pounds & over 40 parts.
The kit contains everything four officers would need including cast iron grill, frying pan, 4 plates, 4 cups, 4 sets of knives, spoons, & forks, 2 prep knives, 2 serving spoons, coffee pot, stew pot, coffee tin, sugar tin, salt, pepper, liquor container, ration box, and even a wash basin and more. We are only aware of one other Milligan mess kit sold (incomplete from Jim Frasca collection).
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of patent, copy of ad from New York Times 1862, original ad from January 1863 Harper’s Weekly.
