SMP Logo
SM Publications
Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.
SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

The Silver Salon Forums
Since 1993
Over 11,793 threads & 64,769 posts !!
American Silver before sterling Forum

A GLOSSARY of MILLED BANDS
Past American Coin Silver Forum topics/threads worth a look
WEV's American Silversmith's Family Tree Project Smith's Index

How to Post Photos REGISTER (click here)

customtitle open  SMP Silver Salon Forums
tlineopen  American Silver before sterling
tline3open  Washington, D.C. Civil War Silversmith (Samuel Lewis?)

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

ForumFriend SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Washington, D.C. Civil War Silversmith (Samuel Lewis?)
greyhave

Posts: 2
Registered: Jan 2005

iconnumber posted 10-21-2005 04:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for greyhave     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
At the beginning of this year, I posted a reply to a discussion in the American Coin Silver forum, but now find that I'm not allowed to post any further replies there.
So I'll have to rehash the thread here.

I'm a rare book-dealer and have acquired (surprisingly, from England) a handwritten technical notebook dated Washington, DC, 1857, which I originally thought was from a Washington silversmith named Samuel Lewis.

In the previous discussion, several people offered information about Lewis, including the likelihood that he did work for the White House (his shop was a few blocks away) when it was occupied by President Buchanan in the 1850s and, during the Civil War, by President Lincoln.

Lewis apparently made silver "skippets" to hold the seals on official US treaties (such as the one used by Perry Expedition to Japan)
I've also found him mentioned in the online diaries of Montgomery Meigs, one of the architects of the Capitol who later became Quartermaster General of the Union Army during the Civil War.

But I've just now begun cataloguing the old notebook, and I find that it may not have come from Samuel Lewis.

I assumed it was Lewis' because the first text page is an "Alloying Table. Value of Gold and Silver Bullion and Coins, Solderings...Dentists Golds...Gold and Silver Refining, etc.", under which are the words "Samuel Lewis, Washington, D.C. Sept. 7th".

But it may be that the person who owned this book simply used a Table which had been prepared by Lewis. Or it could have come from someone who worked for Lewis.

On the back of that first page is the only identification of the owner. It reads:

"Sept. 8, 1857
J.K.C. fecit
Washington City, D.C. 1857"

If someone with an American Silversmiths and Goldsmiths directory for the 1850s and 1860s could find a name in Washington that matches the initials "J.K.C." (or possibly
"I.K.C." or "L.K.C."?) I'd be very grateful if you could please post the information here.

Once I have this book catalogued, with scans, I'll be happy to cite the listing page for anyone who be interested in having a look at this little notebook.

Thanks,
Richard Smith

IP: Logged

swarter
Moderator

Posts: 2920
Registered: May 2003

iconnumber posted 10-22-2005 12:06 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for swarter     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here is the link to the previous discussion, Washington DC maker s. Lewis.

IP: Logged

All times are ET

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a


1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.


| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver
| Update BOS Registration | Silver Library | For Sale | Our Wants List | Silver Dealers | Speakers Bureau |
| Silversmiths | How to set a table | Shows | SMP | Silver News |
copyright © 1993 - 2022 SM Publications
All Rights Reserved.
Legal & Privacy Notices