AN UNIDENTIFIED CIVIL WAR LEECH AND RIGDON SPUR?

Granted, there is no spur in any of the collector books that looks like this half spur that I dug in a lot on Cherry Street here in Vicksburg way back in 1986, but there is one, and only one (that I've found), that features a star in the position shown on the half in the first four photos below - and that is the famous Leech and Rigdon "CS" spur shown in the latter four photos.

As far as I know, this half spur is the only example of this type that has been found. Below is the famous Leech and Rigdon "CS" spur. This example sold for nearly $1900 on eBay.

THE VERY RARE MEMPHIS NOVELTY WORKS/LEECH & RIGDON CONFEDERATE SPUR

RARE! ONE OF THESE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION RECENTLY SOLD ON EBAY FOR OVER $1800. THIS PIECE CAME FROM A DITCH HERE IN VICKSBURG WHERE A CONFEDERATE OFFICER MUST HAVE THROWN IT AFTER IT BROKE IN HALF. THIS PORTION HAS THE STAR AND THE "S," WHEREAS THE MISSING HALF WOULD HAVE THE STAR AND A "C." DESPITE ITS INCOMPLETENESS, IT'S A VERY GOOD RELIC OF THE WAR FOR SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE.

The Memphis Novelty Works was the firm of Thomas Leech, and was organized in Memphis, Tenn. about September, 1861, to manufacture “army cutlery.” Along with Charles Rigdon, Leech produced various pattern swords at Memphis until about May 1, 1862, when, due to the danger of that city being captured, the firm moved to Columbus, Mississippi. Thereafter the firm was known as the “Novelty Works/Leech & Rigdon. It produced swords, revolvers and other "cutlery" for the Confederacy. Artifacts bearing the company's name are among the most sought after relics of the war. A complete spur was recently appraised by Antiques Roadshow at $3,500 - $4,500 retail.