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1893 Columbian Exposition, National French Draft Horse Association Gold Award Medal, MS66 NGC. ...
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Description
1893 Constructed Gold Award Medal, MS66
National French Draft Horse Association
Awarded to Ed Hodgson
1893 Columbian Exposition, National French Draft Horse
Association Gold Award Medal, MS66 NGC. 67.5 grams, 58 mm. This
extraordinary medal is constructed in green, yellow, and rose-gold
with intricately prepared fixtures on a 58 mm. diameter blank that
is hand-engraved "Awarded to Ed Hodgson, First Premium, Columbian
Exposition, 1893." The original plush-lined leather box of issue
accompanies this medal. The quality of this piece is
spectacular.Alan V. Weinberg Commentary. One of the most aesthetic, eye-appealing, pre-1900 American gold medals that I have ever seen. It almost knocks you off your feet. Uniquely constructed and styled: a blank gold central planchet, around which is affixed a separate gold rim. Ultra-high-relief gold fixtures include different colored gold horsehead, Columbian Exposition labels, and ornate fixtures, all masterfully hand-made by a jeweler of the time. Curiously, there is no indication of the maker on the medal or box. This exquisite medal may have been produced by Theodore B. Starr (1837-1907), the New York City jeweler who signed a similar constructed gold medal presented to Sophia Hayden, the architect of the Woman's building at the exposition. His store was located at 206 Fifth Avenue in 1893. Starr was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1837 and died in 1907.
National French Draft Horse Association: This group, based in Illinois, was organized in 1876 as the National Norman Horse Association, and incorporated in 1884. The name was changed to the National French Draft Horse Association the following year. From the association's constitution:
"The object of this Association is to advance the interests of the importers and breeders of French Draft horses in the United States of America, and as a means to that end to provide for the proper registration of the same under such rules as may be prescribed by the Association."
The organization maintained "The National Register of French Draft Horses" with 14 volumes published between 1881 and 1917. We have been unable to determine when the National French Draft Horse Association ceased to exist, but presume it was about the time of World War I.
Edwin Hodgson: A horse breeder in El Paso, Illinois, Edwin Hodgson earned the First Premium award at the Columbian Exposition Stock Show for his French draft mare of four to five years. Hodgson won numerous Columbian Exposition awards for his French draft horses, per volume 24 of the Farmer's Review that was published in 1893. Hodgson, who died on June 22, 1915, was born at Tazewell County, Illinois on January 1, 1842. In his obituary that appeared in the El Paso Journal of June 24, 1915, Hodgson was described as a prominent, well-respected pioneer resident of El Paso. His interest in draft horses began in 1875, according to his obituary:
"In 1875 Mr. Hodgson became interested in the breeding of draft horses, that year purchasing his first stallion. From this small beginning he gradually added to his stables until in later years he was one of the most widely known breeders and importers in the west. In 1882 he made his first trip to Europe, bringing back with him fourteen finely bred animals. The following year he imported twenty of his own selection in France, and in 1884 brought over thirty-one. In later years his importations were considerable, although these were through his European agents."
Hodgson was the son of William and Phoebe (Bennett) Hodgson who were from Ohio and both native to England. He married Sarah Worley in 1863, and they were the parents of four daughters who all died young, and four sons who all lived into their 60s or beyond. Four years after Sarah died in 1877, Hodgson married Katherine Gibson who survived him. Hodgson was active in his local community, and enjoyed a very large circle of friends, according to his obituary.
El Paso, Illinois is located in Woodford County, and situated 20 miles north of Bloomington, and 30 miles east of Peoria. This lot will appeal to equestrian-minded collectors, those interested in the Columbian Exposition, or others that appreciate small-town Illinois history.
Acquired from Anthony Terranova's personal medal collection at the Summer 2013 Chicago ANA.
From The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, Part II.
View all of [The Alan V. Weinberg Collection, Part II ]
Auction Info
2019 August 14 - 18 ANA World's Fair of Money US Coins Signature Auction - Chicago #1298 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2019
14th-18th
Wednesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 19
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,666
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid (minimum $19) per lot.
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