Where to find the best Civil War dealers when looking for antiques
If you are looking for Civil War antiques and have exhausted all the usual places you are able to find them, your next step should be to contact Civil War dealers to see if they can find you what you want.
The problem comes in when you realize there are thousands of Civil War antique dealers on the Internet alone, so how do you even know where to start.
Ask other Civil War antique collectors -- Other collectors can often be surprisingly helpful when it comes to antiques, even though they may be looking for specific items themselves. Get on the Internet, look for chat rooms where other collectors congregate to talk about the Civil War antiques they enjoy, then ask for some help. They should be able to give you a list of reputable dealers to begin with.
Online searches for Civil War antique dealers -- You can also do a search for civil war dealers on the Internet, and check out some of the ones that appear. You can check their reputations with a quick visit to the Better Business Bureau, as well as by reading reviews written by consumers who have dealt with them in the past.
The Gettysburg Museum of History -- This privately owned and run museum has a huge collection of Civil War antiques. As new ones come in, the owner then assesses what is still needed in the museum's collection, and what can be sold to someone who may love it even more.
The museum has a list of current Civil War antiques for sale and, if you are looking for specific pieces, this is a great place to start. Feel free to also email the museum to ask if they could contact you if a piece you want becomes available, and they do not want it for the museum.