Nineteenth Century Native American blanket, $35,200.

Colt presentaion pistol dated 1861, $6,050.

In Upstate New York Sale, Blanket Relegated to Attic Fetches $35,200 from a Colorado Dealer

OTEGO, N.Y. – An early Nineteenth Century Indian blanket found in an Oneonta, N.Y., attic brought $35,200 at Hesse Galleries’ November 2 auction.

The blanket was found among a group of ordinary quilts that had long ago been relegated to the attic. In worn condition, the blanket nearly had been thrown away by the owners. Advertised by Hesse Galleries as an important American Indian rdf_Description, it drew wide attention from collectors and dealers across the country. After spirited bidding from both audience and phone bidders, it sold to a prominent collector/dealer in Colorado.

Included in the auction was a Transitional child’s wearing blanket that sold for $4,180.

A large offering of antique firearms were also sold. Leading this category was a presentation pistol dated 1861 and presented to Second Lt Gen W. Wildrick, hammered down at $6,050.

A Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy rifle brought $6,710; a Revolutionary War Brown Bess musket sold for $3,080; a bayonet that fit the Brown Bess was sold separately for $247; and a 1766 Charlesville musket with original flint hammered out at $2,640.

A variety of other related objects complemented the sale, including period trunks, edged weapons, cutlery, canteen, and powder horns.