#130-CIVIL WAR SALE: RARE PASS FOR CORPORAL GEORGE BELL (TAPE REPAIR ON REVERSE)

Another rare Union pass for a soldier to cross battle lines. These are probably so rare today because of what you see here: It was folded into 8 small panels and likely in Bell's wallet but taken out and handled many times. It shows considerable handling besides just the worn creases from the folds. Somehow it survived in a family album or stack of Great, Great Grandpa's box of items he kept from when he served in the Civil War.

If this is intended for display, framed or perhaps in a protective sleeve in a notebook, there is an alternative to excessive handling.

We often will make a quality copy for display or other use, carefully storing the original in an acid-free envelope stored away safely. While it wasn't from the Civil War, I had a large autographed photo from the Baseball Hall of Fame on my office wall for many years.

Every Induction weekend a HOF photographer gathers all of the Hall of Famers able to attend; these photos are an excellent collection of baseball history over many years. The original I had was signed by about 25+ HOFers present. I had many compliments and questions about the unique photo; but I never was questioned even once about whether it was an original print and group of original signatures. Since the advent of the color copier, with increasingly higher quality over the years, such copies became very easy to create. The History Bank began using color copying for the production of proofs and final literature well before inexpensive color printers existed.
The original signed photo was stored safely while the framed copy was on display. I always urge customers and clients to consider this approach to protect old paper items that can easily be damaged or faded from years in the light.

Linking the printer to a computer for direct output in the 1980s was very expensive. A piece of hardware was necessary to operate between the computer and printer, effectively adding a second computer to the production loop. The entire production set-up was ridiculously expensive, typical of most any item when it first is vilable. The History Bank invested more than $20,000 to be able to use a very large, expensive color copy machine to print direct from our art director's Mac.

Today, even the least expensive (~$100+) home color printers today can turn out quality comparable to those first units forty years ago! So copying and framing any document you own or purchase in this auction will pass the scrutiny of friends or clients viewing your document on home or office wall and it will cost you just a few cents plus the cost of the frame.

We have reduced this item by about 25% due to its condition. I hate to use the term "bargain" when talking about a rare historical document, but it is the appropriate usage here.

OFFERS CONSIDERED
Submit offers to [email protected].