A Revolutionary War Relic Hunters Bookshelf

First off I'd like to welcome you to the Treasure Depot's online magazine and thanks for taking the time to read this column. In the future, I will be looking at various aspects of North American Colonial and Revolutionary War relic hunting, artifacts etc. Along the way, I hope to find time to relate some information about artifact preservation, provenance recording, Colonial archaeology and relic hunting history. This first issue however, I want to talk about something a little different.

Since the day Larry Cissna so graciously asked me to write for the Treasure Depot, I have thought long and hard about the content of this initial article. I finally decided to address a subject I personally feel is of great importance to the Colonial relic hunter and collector. It is also something that many of us neglect. What I am talking about, is compiling your own personal set of artifact research materials. Some good sites and a decent detector can make for some great relic hunting but if you don't really know what you've found, you could be missing out.

The quality of your research library and how you use it, can greatly enhance your success and knowledge as a relic hunter and/or collector. A well stocked bookshelf can pay big dividends when it comes to identifying finds or documenting a site history. Its always good to know what materials are available to you and where to get them if you need them. The selection of available books is constantly changing and requires that as relic hunters/collectors, we keep track of new releases and publication discontinuances.

One of the biggest problems is that many Colonial - Revolutionary War research materials are really expensive and hard to find. Military histories and artifact studies are usually printed in fairly small quantities because of the limited audience they are directed at. Therefore when a particular book title goes "out of print" it is not uncommon for the price to double or even triple. A person can easily spend thousands of dollars on research material some of which they may never use. In my opinion, that is not a good investment unless you love to collect books and have lots of shelf space. 

Below I have listed a small selection of pertinent artifact research books. When possible, I will give my positive impressions (PLUS') and my negative impressions (MINUS') regarding a particular work. Remember this is just my personal opinion. The list below is not a complete enumeration of all the available publications, just a few of the ones I feel are important, new or easily obtainable. Omission of other books in this list doesn't mean they are not good, it just means I ran out of room.

In future articles here at the Treasure Depot Online Magazine, I will be referencing some of the works listed below in addition to some others. So lets get to the list !!

1) Collectors Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution - by George C. Neumann & Frank J. Kravic, (still in print), published by Castle Books, Secaucus N.J. 1977. If you can only buy one book, this is probably the one you should get. PLUS' - Widely considered one of the best and easiest to use guides to Revolutionary War period artifacts. The items are arranged alphabetically and the book contains hundreds of photographs and brief  descriptions. It deals with both excavated and non-excavated artifacts. MINUS' - It is very light on some artifact types especially buttons and insignia.

2) History Written With Pick and Shovel - by Calvert & Bolton, New York Historical (out of print), (copies when available usually sell for $), New York Historical Society, 1950. If you can find it and can afford to get it, this is one you'll never regret owning. PLUS' - This book 
is a Revolutionary War and War of 1812 collectors dream. Its full of photos of American and British Revolutionary War buttons and insignia. More than 100 British Regimental buttons alone () are photographed in the book. It also has sections on American War of 1812 buttons and British War of 1812 accouterment plates. The book contains several stories about the New 
York Historical Society's Field Exploration Committee's excavation of British and American campsites. If you would like reading about the men who paved the way in the recovery of Revolutionary War artifacts, you won't put this book down. MINUS' - Very expensive and difficult to find. This book is also somewhat out of date (it was published in the 1950s and the excavations were all in the early 1900s). There is a great deal of new material out there (particularly buttons) that isn't covered in this book.

3) Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America - by Ivor Noel Hume, (still in print), published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1978. An excellent general guide to Colonial artifacts by one of the most famous historic archaeologists in North America. PLUS' - The book is very easy to use and is arranged 
alphabetically. There are quite a few photographs and illustrations. One of the most rewarding parts of this book are the chapters on Colonial ceramics. This is information that can really help to identify the potential age of early sites. There is also a great chart for dating pipe bowls. MINUS' - 
The book has very little information on Colonial military items. It deals mostly with the material culture found on Colonial era domestic sites. It also relies heavily on artifact types found in the vicinity of Williamsburg Virginia, which may not be fully applicable to other parts of the United 
States.

4) Colonial Williamsburg Archaeological Series - by Ivor Noel & Audrey Hume, (still in print), published by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Williamsburg Va. A series of 10 pamphlets dealing with different basic aspects of archaeology in and around Williamsburg Virginia. (Series No.1 - Glass in Colonial Williamsburg's Archaeological Collections), (Series No. 2 - Pottery & Porcelain in Colonial Williamsburg's Archaeological Collections), (Series No. 3 - Archaeology and Wetherburn's Tavern), (Series No. 4 - The Wells of Williamsburg: Colonial Time Capsules), (Series No. 5 - James Geddy and Sons: Colonial Craftsmen), (Series No. 6 - Williamsburg Cabinetmakers: The Archaeological Evidence), (Series No. 7 - Archaeology and the Colonial 
Gardener), (Series No. 8 - Digging for Carter's Grove), Series No. 9 - Food), (Series No. 10 - Discoveries in Martin's Hundred). PLUS' - All of the pamphlets make for easy and educational reading. Many illustrations and descriptions of artifacts. MINUS' - The series is very basic and there isn't a whole lot of information on military items.

5) Don Troiani's Soldier's in America , Text by Earl J. Coates and James Kochan, (still in print), published by Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pa.1998. PLUS' - Very informative text liberally mixed with artifact photos and some of Don Troiani's legendary artwork. Not just about artifacts, this book really helps you visualize what the people who used them might have looked like. MINUS' - Covers a large time span, much of which is after the Colonial/Revolutionary War period.

6) The Book of the Continental Soldier - by Harold L. Peterson, (out of print ???), published by The Stackpole Company, Harrisburg Pa., 1968. PLUS' - A nice general guide to the arms, equipment and artifacts of the Continental Army. The books uses both excavated and non excavated artifacts. Many illustrations and descriptions of artifacts. MINUS' - The book is somewhat out of date. Many new items are not included especially buttons and insignia.

7) Artifacts of the French Army in America - by Deborah Sprouse, (out of print), (copies when available generally sell for $), privately printed by the author. A small pamphlet put out in very limited quantities in the 1980s. The title is a bit misleading since the booklet really only focuses on buttons. PLUS' - The booklet is pretty good for what it is and has many illustrations of French Regimental buttons found in Virginia. Information on French buttons of the Revolutionary War is very tough to find and currently this is one of the few sources that a collector or relic hunter can reference. MINUS' -This pamphlet is very hard to get and there are many newly discovered buttons not included. 

8) A Guide to Excavated Colonial and Revolutionary War Artifacts - by Deborah Sprouse, (no longer in print), published by Heritage Trails, Turbotsville Pa., 1988. A very general "cut and paste" pictorial guide to artifacts. 90% photographs with very brief descriptions. PLUS' - A few rare relics are pictured along with many more common items. MINUS' - Many of the pictures are of poor quality and too many of the artifact descriptions are as basic as they can get. 

9) Buckles , by Ross Whitehead, (still in print), Greenlight Publishing, Essex England 1996, 126 pages. The title pretty much sums it up, nothing but buckles. PLUS' - Loaded with pictures and descriptions of almost every early buckle imaginable. A nice book to help with identifying the use and age of one of the more commonly found Colonial artifact. MINUS' - Its a 
tough book to get and the dates of use are based English recoveries which may not be completely accurate on American sites. 

10) The British Army in North America "Osprey Men at Arms Series", by Robin May, (still in print), Osprey Publishing, London England 1974, 40 pages. PLUS' - Although really a history book, it contains some pictures of artifacts and color plates of soldiers in uniform. Most beneficial is the roster of British units and their period of service during the American 
Revolution. MINUS' - Its very basic.

11) Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, by George C. Neumann, (still in print), Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pa. 1974, 288 pages. A very useful book for identifying period bayonets, swords, knives and axes. PLUS' - Loaded with pictures and descriptions. Most of the pieces are non-dug but there are plenty of excavated examples (especially knives and axes). A good book to have on the shelf. MINUS' - There are many newly discovered items which are not in this book. 

12) Record of Uniform & Historical Buttons, by Alphaeus Albert, (still in print), 1977. Still considered one of the best resources for the collector of American military buttons. PLUS' - Hundreds of different buttons and variations are pictured within along with descriptions. The book contains a nice selection of American Revolutionary War buttons in the front with additional buttons listed under some of the state headings. There is also a nice little section on Loyalist buttons. It is a fairly easy book to find. MINUS' - No British or French buttons are included in this work. It is now quite out of date.

13) Colonial Artifacts of Early America, by Rodney Peck, (still in print), 55 pages, I don't know much about this book since its a brand new release. It contains pictures and descriptions of artifacts including black glass, ceramics, gun parts, tobacco pipes and much more. 

Here's one that is not yet in print but promises to be one of those books that every Colonial/Revolutionary War relic hunter and collector must have.

Military Buttons of the American Revolution, by Don Troiani, (not yet in print - expected late summer 2000), (no price yet), Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, Pa , probably 200-300 pages. This book will cover British, Loyalist, American and French buttons of the American Revolutionary War period. Text covers unit histories, all known button variations with much primary research from period documents. Hundreds of illustrations of buttons, portraits of officers showing buttons, etc. This book will have a number of buttons that have never been published before and lots of new information. I personally know of some of the stuff that will be in this book and I can't wait to see the rest. I think this will become the primary reference book for all Revolutionary War button collectors and relic hunters.

Well friends, that is it for now. I hope you found this list useful. Stop by next issue, if you like rare Revolutionary War buttons. I'll be talking about one I bet you haven't seen before. Take care and good hunting.

Authors / Publishers...got a new Colonial - Revolutionary War artifact or collectable book coming
out ? Is one of your titles going "out of print" ? Get me the details and I'll see if I can inform our readers.------ EB