This beautiful Tiffany & Co. gilt officer's sword and scabbard are pictured and described on pages 522-523 of "Civil War Army Swords" by John Thillmann and is truly one of the finest Civil War officer's swords extent in terms of both its outstanding overall condition, its impressive overall ornamentation, and its historical inscription to a commanding officer and Gettysburg veteran: Major Leman W. Bradley, later a colonel and brevet brigadier general. The most prominent pieces of ornamentation on the sword is the silver Model 1841 Field Gun that serves as the grip and has four gilt brass cannon balls at the base. The aged silver contrasts beautifully with the gold plated hilt and scabbard. The pommel is a spread wing bald eagle perched on top of a cannon ball at the muzzle of the cannon, and the eagle is holding a ribbon which extends down to the knuckle guard. The latter is fitted with a golden sword knot and has a silver Gorgoneion (Medusa's head, a historical apotropaic symbol popular in the 19th century) at the center. The counter guard has a patriotic shield and banners. The 32 inch straight blade has "PDL" at the right ricasso indicating it was the product of P.D. Luneschloss of Solingen, Germany, and has beautiful gilt etching with patriotic motifs including a spread wing eagle and shield motif and "E. PLURIBUS UNUM" banner on the right, stands of arms near the bottom, and "U.S." on the center left. The scabbard is gilded and has star and lightning motifs at the hangers, a cannon that matches the hilt and acanthus leaves at the drag, and the "TIFFANY & CO/NY" maker's mark on the backside at the throat. The scabbard's silver plaque is inscribed "Major Leman W. Bradley/64th Regt. N.Y. Vols./Presented by the Merchants/of Hudson. Sept. 6. 1863. for his/Gallantry in Defense of his Country." The date is significant as it follows the Gettysburg campaign and before the Bristoe Campaign. Leman W. Bradley (1820-1912) was 41 years old when he enlisted on April 30, 1861, at Hudson, New York, as a 1st lieutenant and was commissioned into "K" Company of the New York 14th Volunteer Infantry on May 17, 1861. He was discharged for disability on September 24, 1861, in Washington, D.C., but then joined the New York 64th Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded in the arm at the Battle of Fair Oaks in May 31-June 1, 1862. The 64th next fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. At the Battle of Gettysburg, the 64th was originally under the command of Colonel David G. Bingham, but when he was wounded on July 2nd (the second day of battle), Bradley took command of the regiment in the "Bloody Wheatfield." His report of the battle is as follows: "I have the honor to report the part taken by the Sixty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3. The regiment went into the engagement on July 2 under the command of Col. Daniel O. Bingham, numbering 185 enlisted men carrying rifles, and 19 commissioned officers. The regiment was deployed in line faced by the rear rank on the right of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment, the left of the Second Delaware Regiment resting on our right. The regiment advanced with the brigade rapidly and steadily under a sharp fire from the enemy, whom we drove before us, killing, wounding, and taking many prisoners...On the morning of the 3d, the Sixty-fourth was in line on the left of the brigade, and mustered for action 1 field officer, 5 captains, 6 lieutenants, and 85 enlisted men with rifles. Colonel Bingham being wounded and at division hospital, the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Bradley. Breastworks were built to our front, which proved a defense against the heavy cannonading received from the enemy on that day. Our only loss this day was 1 man wounded on picket, under the command of Capt. W. W. Wait. I am happy to say, as far as came to my knowledge, every officer and enlisted man did his duty in such a manner as to honor himself, his regiment, his brigade, and his country..." As listed on the monument to the 64th at Gettysburg in the Rose Woods, they suffered 15 killed (4 officers and 11 enlisted men), 64 wounded (7 officers and 57 enlisted men), and 19 missing enlisted men at Gettysburg. They then pursued Lee and took their place on the line of the Rappahannock. The sword would have been presented to Bradley while stationed there based on the date of the inscription. The 64th then fought in the Bristoe Campaign, Mine Run Campaign, Battle of the Wilderness, and Battle of Spottsylvania Court House. He was wounded in his other arm during the latter on May 12, 1864, during the assault on the "Bloody Angle" and left for dead but was able to recover. On July 6th, 1864, Bingham resigned, and Bradley was promoted to colonel and took full command of the regiment and led them at the First Battle of Deep Bottom in mid-August 1864 and at Ream’s Station on August 25, 1864. He mustered out on October 5, 1864, with the rank of colonel and was brevetted as a brigadier general in 1865. During the course of the war, the 64th lost 10 officers and 109 enlisted men in action, 3 officers and 50 enlisted men from wounds sustained in action, and 5 officers and 124 enlisted men from other causes (primarily disease). After leaving the service, Bradley became an electoral messenger for his home district in New York in the election 1864 the ended with Lincoln's reelection. He died and was buried in Hudson in 1912.

Excellent overall with only minimal minor handling and storage type marks, attractive natural patina on the grip, and bright original gold. This is an absolutely outstanding Civil War Tiffany presentation sword in condition, ornamentation, and historical interest and is certainly among the finest Civil War swords we have had the privilege of bringing to auction, and it is sure to add value, beauty, and interest to any public or high quality private collection. A true piece of history and art!