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Park Service Document:

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Message stating: “March the 6th “I send you some tobacco and expect some coffee in return. Send me some postage stamps and you will oblige yours rebel”.

A handwritten note from a Confederate soldier to the Union forces near Fredericksburg, VA. offering to trade tobacco for coffee. Note is dated March 6th - year is unknown.

Text is handwritten in pencil on paper about 3 ¾-inches by 2 ½-inches wide.

At the time of the theft, the paper was encapsulated in sealed plastic and mounted on a wooden backing. The backing was mounted inside a gilt-edged frame measuring 6-inches by 4 ¾-inches wide, and there was clear UF3 Plexiglas over the paper inside the frame.

Before display, the frame had been repaired at the corners. A permalife dust cover was fastened to the rear of the frame.

The photograph above was taken in December, 1971, before conservation with yellow Plexiglass over the note and the frame chipped at the corners.

Missing Items

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Daggar and Scabbard

Dagger and scabbard (item #560b&c).  The dagger has a gold hilt with 4 diamonds of .5 carats each in the pommel, surrounding a 2.5 carat emerald.  The lower grip has 15 small diamonds surrounding an oval 3 carat ruby.  The scabbard is gold with 4 rubies at the throat and an 8.5 carat emerald over a 3 carat ruby surrounded by 12 small diamonds.  At the tip is a 3 carat ruby surrounded by 12 small diamonds. It was a state gift to President Truman from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Saud. 

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Presentation Sword

Presentation Sword (item #576 b&c).  It was a state gift to President Truman from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Saud.  It is 38" long has gold grips and a gold chain connecting the hand guard with the pommel grip.  It is decorated with 4 diamonds.  The hand guard also has a diamond.  The scabbard is gold and black leather decorated with 15 diamonds.  (The gold rope and tassels shown in the photo were not stolen.) 

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Sword and Scabbard

Sword and scabbard (item #577 b&c).  It was a state gift to President Truman from Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Saud.  The sword is just under 38" long.  It has a curved steel blade with ivory grips and a gold decoration chain leading from the hand guard to the pommel.  It has multiple diamonds and rubies throughout both the grips and the scabbard. 

Print — "The Fokker Spider, 1912"

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Print – “The Fokker Spider, 1912” by Charles H. Hubbell

This print should have “1842 HSTL” written on the back.

The Fokker "Spider" — 1912 Anthony Fokker built his first airplane in 1912 using a corner of the Zeppelin shed at Baden-Baden as his workshop. Nicknamed the "Spider" it was a far cry from the trim little fighters which were to bring fame to the Fokker name in the world war. The design of the "Spider" showed much originality. It was a wire-braced low-wing monoplane constructed largely of steel tubing. The wing section was flat except for a sharp downward curve at the leading edge. Ailerons were eliminated and inherent stability was obtained by generous use of a sweep-back and dihedral. The later model "Spider" with a 100 h.p. Argus engine performed well, flying in windy weather and making sharp turns with all the dexterity of its aileron-equipped competitors. It claims at least one world's record. The Russian aviatrix Mlle. Galanshikoff piloted the "Spider" to the women's altitude record of 7900 feet in 1912.