W. Clauberg presentation Staff & Field Officer's sword with highly detailed Lady Liberty figural hilt, gold-plated Damascus blade and engraved scabbard. The scabbard is inscribed: "Presented to Capt. Jacob W. Clark/by the Members of the 59th Regt N.Y.V.". The sword has a 32-inch Damascus spear point blade with a single stopped fuller. The rear third and top of the blade are decorated with gold washed acid etched panels highlighted with dry needle engraving. The panels feature stands of colors and arms near the hilt. The center obverse of the blade is etched with the motto "Always Ready". The reverse is etched with a spread eagle with an "E PLURIBUS UNUM" ribbon in its beak. The eagle and motto are flanked by delicate floral etching. The back of the blade is etched "IRON PROOF" and decorated with gold washed acanthus leaves. The reverse ricasso is stamped with the Clauberg standing knight trademark and "SOLINGEN". The figural hilt features a highly detailed silver figure of Lady Liberty with a sword in her right hand and laurel leaves in her left. The figure wears a gold liberty cap, a mantle of stars and a breast plate set with a semi-precious stone. The gold plated brass guard has a single branch with dolphin head quillion. The guard features intricate pierced foliate decorations set with nine semi-precious stones. The silver plated scabbard has highly detailed gold plated foliated mounts set with twelve semi-precious stones. The lower portion of the scabbard is decorated with an elongated U.S. shield with thirteen stars. The gold plated drag mount is decorated with relief foliated engraving surrounding a "US" monogram. The drag features "US" in relief surrounded by relief cast foliate decorations. The hilt has a regulation gold bullion officer's sword knot. The sword is complete with a walnut, nine-inch by forty-four inch French fitted case with maroon velvet lining. Presentation Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Swords with similar Liberty Figural hilts and scabbards are illustrated on pages 486 and 493 of "CIVIL WAR ARMY SWORDS" by John H. Thillmann. This particular sword is pictured on page 288 of "AMERICAN SWORDS AND MAKERS VOL. II" by Richard H. Bezdek. A Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's sword with an identical hilt and similar blade decoration and scabbard is pictured on page 586 of Bezdek's "AMERICAN SWORDS AND MAKERS VOL. I". Jacob W. Clark enlisted as a Private in Company H of the 59th New York Volunteer Infantry on October 3, 1861. Clark was wounded at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. Clark re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer in December 1863. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1864. On May 12, 1864, Lieutenant Clark was wounded and captured at the "Bloody Angle" at Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia. Clark was held as a prisoner of war at "Camp Asylum" in Columbia, South Carolina. The 59th New York Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service in November 1861 and served with the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula Campaign in June 1862 until the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. The regiment had 270 officers and men killed in action, mortally wounded or died from disease.

Very fine overall. The figural hilt is in exceptional condition. The brass guard retains more than 90% of the gold plated finish with minor high point wear. All of the semi-precious stones remain in place. The highly detailed cast silver Liberty figure in excellent condition with crisp details. The blade retains nearly all of the delicate gold wash with extremely sharp acid etched motto and decorations. The undecorated portion of the blade has most of the frosted Damascus finish intact. The point of the blade is chipped and there is pitting on both sides of the blade between the point and the end of the fuller and a small area of pitting on the top of the blade near the end of the decorative etching. The etched and gold washed portions of the blade remain in excellent condition and wear is limited to several small spots of pitting on the ricasso. The scabbard remains in excellent condition with at least 90% of the silver and gold plated finish intact and sharp engraved decorations and presentation. The nickel plated scabbard body has some very light age frosting and the drag has several small and nearly imperceptible dents. The case interior and exterior remain in very fine condition. This is a truly outstanding example of a cased, high grade, Civil War Officer's presentation sword with rare and desirable figural statue hilt.