The Civil War Collection [Hardcover]

Bob Zeller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

Travel back through time with this compelling collection of Civil War artifacts culled from the National Archives, the Museum of the Confederacy, and private collections. Featuring twenty-four meticulously reproduced documents, this historical time capsule offers a fascinating and intimate firsthand look at our nation's greatest conflict. The striking, clever design allows either the Union or the Confederate flag to be displayed with a simple flip of the box.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Bob Zeller was 12 years old, his grandmother took him to an antiques show. One of the vendors was selling old copies of Baltimore's Sun newspaper dating from the Civil War. Though it cost him two weeks' worth of allowance, he couldn't resist buying it. He was hooked. "The wonder of holding an actual relic has never faded."

Zeller shares that feeling of wonder in The Civil War Collection--a treasure chest of meticulously detailed facsimiles of documents relating to the Civil War. Inside the handsome box you'll find 24 realistic gems, including a Confederate recruiting flyer ("the foot of the ruthless invader is upon her soil, and his conduct is characterized by barbarities and atrocities disgraceful to civilization"); stereoscopic photographs and viewer with 3-D images from the war; a Confederate $100 bill and a Mississippi "cotton-pledged" $1 note; a pardon signed by President Lincoln and a copy of the Amnesty Oath signed by Robert E. Lee; and a heart-rending, bloodstained letter from a dying soldier to his father:

I have been struck by a piece of shell and my right shoulder is horribly mangled & I know death is inevitable. I am very weak but I write to you because I know you would be delighted to read a word from your dying son. I know death is near, that I will die far from home and friends of my early youth but I have friends here too who are kind to me.

This collection isn't aimed at the Civil War novice (for that, check out the similarly interactive The Civil War: Unstilled Voices), though a helpful guide does help put the documents in context. Civil War buffs will be entranced.--Sunny Delaney

From Publishers Weekly

These two releases build on journalist Zeller's first In Depth, which three years ago collected similar reproductions of Civil War ephemera. Since then, many more small archive holders have come forward, and the raison d'?tre of this second In Depth book of stereograms (glasses included), photos and period documents is to organize and bring them to lightAundoubtedly with the huge Civil War-buff market in mind. Houstonian Jean Stanford's unparalleled private collection of stereoviews makes up the core of the book, providing some wonderfully dramatic battle-aftermath shots, as well as fascinating everyday looks at telegraph operators, spies and Port Hudson, La., "the last rebel stronghold." The book is carefully and compellingly laid out, the captions inform of scene and date, but analysis is not a focus. The Collection is a stand-alone set of period reproductions, including the 1863 color "almanac" (or catalogue) of clothing manufacturer Charles Stokes & Co., a contractual "Slave Policy," a pamphlet calling bearers "TO ARMS! TO ARMS!!" money, maps, daguerreotypes, advertisements and other period objects. (All are catalogued and briefly explained in a short accompanying text by Zeller.) The quality of the reproductions is generally good, if less than crisp, and the selection of materials effectively delineates the kinds of printed matter that circulated in mid-century torrents. As the war and culture surrounding it continue to be exhaustively mined by historians and buffs, such projects are the next logical step in getting the material to people in a form as near to the originals as possible, and the closest thing (short of reenactment) to having been there. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Package edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811826449
• ISBN-13: 978-0811826440
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,978,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Set, September 8, 2000

By 

"dsb98" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Civil War Collection (Hardcover)

I purchased this collection of replica Civil War artifacts on a whim and have to say that it was one of the better purchasing decisions I've made in a while.

While replicas like these obviously don't recreate a time period, they can help in conveying an understanding of what life was like at that time. I've used replica materials like this in the classroom before and am convinced of their educational value. With that in mind, I'm looking forward to using "The Civil War Collection" very soon.

This fascinating set contains a color copy of the "Charles Stokes & Co.'s Almanac for 1863," a small clothing catalogue; an interesting reproduction of a Slave insurance policy; copies of a couple of letters, including a military pardon issued by Lincoln just hours before his assassination; a couple of copies of Confederate currency; and a few other items. There are even a number of stereo photographs (the 19th century equivalent to the old "View Master" toy) and a small viewer to use them with. Finally, there is a small book, which puts all of these materials into context.

I think anyone with an interest in the Civil War, whether they are a novice, enthusiast, or educator, will like this product. I definitely do!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your own Civil War Museum!, August 31, 2001

By 

Samantha W. Mckevitt "longislandgirl" (Dix Hills, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil War Collection (Hardcover)

This is a lot of fun! This is such a great collection of Civil War memorabilia. It is so much more rewarding to actually handle the Confecerate Currancy than to merely look at a photograph of the same. I particularly enjoyed the touching letter home and lists of needed supplies. The accompanying book nicely explains the significance of each item. I thought that the 3-d glasses and holder were a little tricky to use, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

As a teacher of American history, it was wonderful to see how my 8th grade students responded with great enthusiasm to these primary documents. This great set is an extremely valuable teaching tool!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a geat gift!, January 19, 2001

By 

William Thomas (Billings, MT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil War Collection (Hardcover)

I received The Civil War Collection as a gift and have just loved everyhting about it. I've also got Zeller's two albums dedicated to stereoscopic views, called The Civil War In Depth I & II. While the latter reflect his fascination with stereophotography of the war, The Civil War Collection is perhaps the most "hands-on" Civil War subject matter I've seen. It contains some stereophtographs and a viewer, but it also has so much more! It's got Robert E. Lee's letter announcing the death of Stonewall Jackson, an insurance policy taken out by an owner on his slave, and the first full-color clothing catalog.

The fact that you can take the items out and hand them around allows you to bring the Civil War home to a classroom or to your family like no book ever could.

If you know someone who teaches American History or someone who's a Civil War buff, buy them the Civil War Collection. You can't go wrong!