SAVING OUR HISTORY, POST REVOLUTIONARY WAR FEDERAL PERIOD HALLMARKED "BASSETT" ALBANY N Y SILVER HILT SWORD 1799

28" curved blade finished in blue and gold gilt etch. The blade is marked within the etch "L. WELLS / & Co. / New York" while the hilt is touchmarked "BASSETT" with relief eaglehead to either side of the mark. Lemuel Wells & Co. was active in New York City between 1799 and 1807 and Nehemiah Beach Bassett was a silversmith in Albany active between 1795 and 1819. The hilt has a scalloped dome pommel with subtle reverse "P" guard, the counterguard is pierced with a beautifully executed and delicate heart shape at center of counterguard. An nearly identically hilted sword marked by another Albany silversmith, Isaac Hutton, appears in the Medicus book. The grip HAS A silver flat wire wrap, the ferrule features a shallow medial groove around its circumference. The blade is etched with floral sprays, Federal Eagle with ribbon reading "E. Pluribus Unum" along with a panoply of arms and the previously mentioned maker mark. The etch remains fully visible and retains strong original gold within the etch itself. The blue is mostly gone but one can see where it terminates at the end of the etching. The sword comes in its original leather scabbard with silver throat, drag and center mount. The throat and center mount have delicate silver hangers and all mounts show simple straight-line engraving. The leather has about half of its finished surface chipped away but remains supple and flexible. The hilt remains in lovely condition with a nice light tarnish, the grip shows typical tight and sound black hairline age cracks. The flat silver wire inlay is fully intact. A lovely New York silver mounted sword for the advanced collector.  [Peter Tillou Collection]