Civil War fakes abound!  A recent article in the Antique Week titled "Civil War collectors tired of the fakes" by Eric C. Rodenberg clearly states the current state of affairs in the collecting marketplace today.  The following are excerpts from this article printed in Vol. 39, issue no. 2006 and dated December 10, 2007.

As the proliferation of Civil War fakes, frauds and fantasy pieces has continued to grow, Civil War collectors have marshaled their forces to combat what they see as a threat to the hobby.

On Nov. 8, Rep. James Moran (D-VA) introduced H.R. 4125 in the House of Representatives to amend the Hobby Protection Act to require that imitation Civil War items be clearly marked as copies.

According to Albert C. Eisenberg, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and longtime Civil War collector, "This won't solve all these problems but it gets the ball rolling in terms of dealing with the collecting and preservation of bona fide Civil War items...this is a part of our American history, our heritage, and we don't like people messing with our heritage."

The Hobby Protection Act (HPA), passed in 1973, requires manufacturers and importers to mark reproductions "plainly and permanently" with the "calendar year" of manufacture or the word "copy."  However, the HPA applies only to two categories of antiques and collectibles: "imitation political items" and "imitation numismatic items."  No other antiques or collectibles are protected by the HPA.

What was seen as a "quick fix" in the early 1970's has become somewhat more problematic, at least with the proliferation of overseas reproductions and the introduction of the internet.

In addition, certainly aggravating the collection of legitimate Civil War relics is the long-time legal production of both Unites States and Confederate armies' uniforms and accessories used by re-enactors.  Many of these items have been reproduced since the 1960's and in the hand of the unscrupulous dealer, have proven problematic for collectors.  These items look so authentic that it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between the genuine article and a thirty or forty year old re-enactor's piece.

By far one of the biggest offenders is eBay.  Although eBay maintains it attempts to monitor its sites for fakes, their ability to do so leaves much to be desired.

So it has become a world of "buyer be aware".  You have to do your research and link up with bona fide dealers who will give you a guarantee of authenticity. You can also educate yourself by studying reference books on the Civil War and by visiting websites such as www.civilwarfakes.com where you can learn about fake Civil War buckles.

"Arming" yourself with a good education on what you are collecting is one of the best defenses you can take against being taken by a shyster selling fake goods.  Familiarize yourself with what an item is worth, what a genuine article has sold for in the past.  The old adage is true: if the price offered on something is too good to be true, then shy away from it.

But beyond the evident peril of reproductions, the substance of of true relics have a deeper meaning to died-in-the-wool Civil War collectors.  Steve Sylvia, president of the Civil War Dealers and Collectors Association, states it well. "There's something primal about the Civil War."  He says "It was just such a different part of our history ...the shock and destruction was unheard of in history, where 5,000 men died in a matter of 15 minutes, its incredible to conceive of ... its something you can almost feel.  I've been seeing this all my life; there's something special about holding such a real piece of history."