Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest gasps and says ‘my Lord’ after hearing the value of his cartridge box (marketrealist.com)
A Revolutionary War-era cartridge box, casually slung over a guest’s shoulder, stunned experts and audiences alike on a recent episode of “Antiques Roadshow.” The guest, believing the box to be a relatively common Civil War relic, was astonished to learn its true value.
Appraiser Rafael Eledge recounted the moment he first saw the item: “He takes it off very roughly, and he throws it, literally throws it on the table. I’m like, ‘That can’t be.’ And I got to looking and I’m like, ‘oh my goodness, it is!'”
The guest, who found the box in his parents’ attic after World War II, assumed it was from the Civil War. Eledge quickly corrected him, revealing the box’s connection to British soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, even pinpointing its association with the 43rd Light Infantry and battles like Bunker Hill.
Eledge described the box’s pristine condition, noting its original buff leather sling, closure tab, and wooden block. He compared finding such a complete artifact to “lining up all of those numbers on a lottery ticket.”
While a similar Civil War-era box might fetch $1,000, this Revolutionary War piece was appraised at a staggering $20,000 to $25,000. The guest’s reaction?
A simple, awestruck “My lord. That’s amazing!”
Despite learning the box’s historical significance and value, the guest casually slung it back over his shoulder and walked off, a move that surprised Eledge. Eledge later speculated that the box could fetch $50,000 or even double that amount in today’s market.