Early royal blue vase Gettysburg Souvenir – Meade’s Headquarters (SOLD)

Recently, I was able to acquire a lifetime collection of early Gettysburg souvenirs. I myself have always had a fondness for these pieces and have allocated a good portion of my book “Battle of Gettysburg – The Relics, Artifacts & Souvenirs” to their history (see pictures). There are numerous items in the collection, and I will be listing them as quick as I can.

This vase has two handles and measures 3” high x 4” wide, no markings on the base. It has a period image of General Meade’s Headquarters. The Lydia Leister farm (General Meade’s headquarters at Gettysburg) is on Taneytown Road at the intersection with Hunt Avenue. Its central location close behind what was roughly the center of the Union lines made it a perfect location as headquarters for the Army of the Potomac.

During the 1880s and even more so during the 1890s, happy and prosperous Victorians, and Civil War veterans, took to the road, usually by train, to visit Civil War sites. As great collectors, they sought out mementos of their travels. One of the most popular of these were porcelain and glass souvenirs – toothpick holders, tumblers, goblets, creamers, vases, and pitchers, etc., inscribed with the name of the destination, and perhaps the date. Now, many are over 100 years old and have become very collectible in their own right. This example is one of the rarer ones and is in very nice condition.