Stacey Myers bought an antique saddle at an auction for $7 and found that it could be worth more than $3,000.
Stacey Myers of Hellam Township found a saddle at auction for $7 that she says is a U.S. Calvary officers saddle from 1830-50. (and was probably made in Philadelphia. YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS – PAUL KUEHNEL)
“It was the brass eagle head that caught Stacey Myers’ eye.
“The eagle head was attached to an old saddle, rolled up and blanketed in dust under a table at Toomey’s Auction in Hellam Township. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the saddle itself had intricate stitching on its seat, in the pattern of the eagle’s wings.
“‘It was just interesting,’ she said. ’We had no idea what we were looking at the time.’
‘Stacey and her husband, Craig, had some time to research it – they saw the saddle at the Sunday night preview for Monday’s auction – so they went to their Hellam Township home and Googled “brass eagle saddle horn.”
“It turned out to be something. That style of saddle was made between 1820 and 1850 and was used by military officers during the Mexican-American and Civil wars.
“Myers is interested in Civil War antiques – she had been buying and selling antiques for 10 years and has a shop, Thundermug Antiques, in Columbia – so she figured she’d bid on it. (Thundermug Antiques is located at 17 South Third Street.)
“The saddle was part of the bulk items being auctioned – perhaps 20 items were being sold at the same time – and Myers opened the bidding at $2. There was a counter, and she bid again. And it was hers.
“She paid $7.
“‘Everybody was looking at me like I was crazy,’ she said.
“It was just an old saddle.
“And she wasn’t crazy.” Click here to read this York Daily Record/York Sunday News article in full.
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