lot of 3. Includes a small triangular piece (approx. 0.4 x 0.7") reported to have been taken from the Liberty Bell with a note signed by the collector that the piece was removed during a repair of the crack during the restoration of Independence Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1897. We have found references to the DAR restoration of the hall, but have been unable to verify repairs to the bell at that time. However, over the years many pieces were apparently removed from the rim (up to 25 pounds worth!) as well. Second item is a piece of bronze removed from inside the head of the statue of William Penn that stands on the top of City Hall in Philadelphia. Presumably excess material, particularly from mold lines, was removed before the 37 ft. tall, 27-ton statue was lifted to the top of the building. Some of this material was stamped into medals. This one is 1" in diameter with William Penn on one side and W H (for William Hammersley) on the other. Last item is a machine-sewn 13-star cotton flag, stars arranged 3-2-3-2-3, that was one of about a dozen on the train that carried the Liberty Bell to the Cotton State Expo in Georgia in 1895. Flag is 24" x 38" tied to a 47" wood staff. Note as to provenance signed by Hammersley pinned on. After the bell was reported to have been aboard a train that wrecked on the way to Charleston, it was decided that it probably should not travel, although a few events were still on the calendar. The Liberty Bell - although not known by that term until the abolition movement adopted it as their symbol before the Civil War - was cast in 1752 by Whitechapel Foundry in London. It came ashore on 1 Sept. 1752, and on its first test, cracked. It was recast twice by American workmen Pass and Stow, even as a new bell was ordered from Whitechapel (the "Sister Bell"). The hairline crack widened over the years, and in 1846 was drilled out to about one-half inch in width and two rivets inserted to stabilize the crack. The visible scar that is the hallmark of the bell today was the result of a repair, not the original crack. According to some reports, enough material was removed during the repair, that a small bell was cast from some of the filings. The bell has not been rung with its own clapper since 1846, but has been mallet-tapped and recorded several times (such as at the end of WWII). Condition: Flag a bit stiff, slight toning of cloth.
lot of 3. Includes a small triangular piece (approx. 0.4 x 0.7") reported to have been taken from the Liberty Bell with a note signed by the collector that the piece was removed during a repair of the crack during the restoration of Independence Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1897. We have found references to the DAR restoration of the hall, but have been unable to verify repairs to the bell at that time. However, over the years many pieces were apparently removed from the rim (up to 25 pounds worth!) as well. Second item is a piece of bronze removed from inside the head of the statue of William Penn that stands on the top of City Hall in Philadelphia. Presumably excess material, particularly from mold lines, was removed before the 37 ft. tall, 27-ton statue was lifted to the top of the building. Some of this material was stamped into medals. This one is 1" in diameter with William Penn on one side and W H (for William Hammersley) on the other. Last item is a machine-sewn 13-star cotton flag, stars arranged 3-2-3-2-3, that was one of about a dozen on the train that carried the Liberty Bell to the Cotton State Expo in Georgia in 1895. Flag is 24" x 38" tied to a 47" wood staff. Note as to provenance signed by Hammersley pinned on. After the bell was reported to have been aboard a train that wrecked on the way to Charleston, it was decided that it probably should not travel, although a few events were still on the calendar. The Liberty Bell - although not known by that term until the abolition movement adopted it as their symbol before the Civil War - was cast in 1752 by Whitechapel Foundry in London. It came ashore on 1 Sept. 1752, and on its first test, cracked. It was recast twice by American workmen Pass and Stow, even as a new bell was ordered from Whitechapel (the "Sister Bell"). The hairline crack widened over the years, and in 1846 was drilled out to about one-half inch in width and two rivets inserted to stabilize the crack. The visible scar that is the hallmark of the bell today was the result of a repair, not the original crack. According to some reports, enough material was removed during the repair, that a small bell was cast from some of the filings. The bell has not been rung with its own clapper since 1846, but has been mallet-tapped and recorded several times (such as at the end of WWII). Condition: Flag a bit stiff, slight toning of cloth.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
