1095

W.G. Berry's Comb, Inscribed 1857 [158848]

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 USD and UP
W.G. Berry's Comb, Inscribed 1857 [158848]
SOLD
2,100.00USD+ (420.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2022 Dec 03 @ 13:47UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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An incredible discovery within the artifacts recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck, found by Bob Evans immediately upon retrieval from the ocean floor. It reads // (illegible) Comb. Goodyear's Patent 1849 //, then hand-inscribed: // W.G. Berry Sept. 5, 1857 //. On the other side is inscribed by hand: // W.G. Berry Steam Ship George Law //. Six inches long, all teeth intact. W. G. Berry was a passenger on the S.S. Central America from Pennsylvania. Little is known of him at present, as he missed most of the US census data gathering process. It is thought he died in the aftermath of the sinking, but like some others appears to have escaped death, got onboard a rescue ship, and walked off unaccounted, thoroughly disgusted with the calamity. At least one other passenger had a similar fate, Lieurance Dorsey, who went home to a New England farm and never discussed the S.S. Central America debacle again. Berry was discovered through an 1863 State Septennial Census, living in Philadelphia, Ward 9, as a merchant. There are ten different William Barry or Berry in McElroy's Philadelphia Directory, none designated as W.G. Berry. This is a remarkable artifact in exemplary condition. It is exceptionally important because it proves Berry to be another survivor.

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Provenance: SS Central America Collection