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Up for sale or sale is a scarce, well-preserved group of five (5) original Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Encampment delegate medals, ribbons, and souvenir badges spanning from 1893 through 1920. Each medal has been protected in an individual collector display case with foam backing and attribution labels.
The Collection Breakdown (5 Pieces)
1. 1893 Department of Ohio Encampment (Hamilton, Ohio): Features a bright red silk ribbon with gold lettering reading "G.A.R. DELEGATE", an embossed metal header bar, and a suspended state encampment commemorative medallion.
2. 1900 34th National Encampment (Indianapolis, Indiana): Features a bronze top bar with full membership insignia, red-white-blue silk ribbon, and a drop medal depicting General Henry Ware Lawton (Civil War Medal of Honor recipient).
3. 1902 36th National Encampment (Washington, D.C.): Heavy stamped bronze "SOUVENIR" scroll header with linked circular medallion bearing the intricate entwined G.A.R. monogram.
4. 1902 36th National Encampment (Washington, D.C.): Ornate eagle perched upon crossed artillery cannon barrels with suspended shield medal displaying the five-pointed membership star and wreath.
5. 1920 54th Department of Illinois Encampment (Joliet, Illinois): Ornate "REPRESENTATIVE" header bar, tricolor ribbon, crossed arms panoply (cannons, musket, anchor, cavalry saber), and bronze commander portrait medallion.
Historical Significance & The Veteran’s Story
These badges belonged to an honored Union Army Civil War Veteran who served his local Post as an elected Delegate / Representative at both Department (State) and National Encampments.
Following the Civil War, Union veterans founded the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866, which grew into the most powerful fraternal and political veterans organization in American history. Attendance at annual Encampments was a tremendous point of pride for aging veterans:
The Delegate Status: Badges labeled "Delegate" or "Representative" were exclusively issued to official voting post members, making them substantially rarer than general attendee souvenirs.
The Timeline (1893–1920): By the 1920 Joliet encampment, the youngest surviving Civil War veterans were in their late 70s and 80s. A collection spanning 27 years shows a lifelong dedication to the brotherhood of Union veterans and preservation of their wartime legacy.
Rarity & Preservation
Silk Integrity: Authentic late-19th-century ribbons are notorious for dry rot, shredding, and fraying due to environmental exposure. The ribbons in this grouping remain exceptionally vibrant, intact, and well-structured.
Storage: Carefully housed and preserved in clear protective acrylic cases with soft foam backing, ensuring the patinas and fabric ribbons remain shielded from dust and handling.
Hardware: Complete with pins, suspension rings, and crisp relief detail on all bronze and white-metal surfaces.
Thank you for looking.
