U.S. Customs Officer's Badge & Photo, ca. 1905
GUEST:
This badge is the badge of my great-grandfather. He was the first black customs official in New York City. He started working for the customs department in 1907. And he worked there until he died in 1945. And this is his badge that he wore, and that's a picture of him in his uniform. He did serve at Ellis Island. And he was fluent in Italian. He was very connected to his family and what he did in the community of Harlem. He participated in the founding of the Harlem Y.M.C.A. where he grew up.
APPRAISER:
So he was a leader.
GUEST:
He was a leader in the community, yes, he was.
APPRAISER:
The badge itself is quite a rare badge. Without the association to your great-grandfather, it's still an unusual badge and hard to find. It's actually numbered on the back.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's enameled, gilt bronze. And the badge itself, without any history, is a $200 or $300 badge.
GUEST:
Really? Yeah?
APPRAISER:
Then we connect that with the photo, and he's actually wearing the badge on his hat in the photo. So it elevates it to something where you'd have folks interested in African-American history who would seek it out.
GUEST:
Right, right.
APPRAISER:
So the photograph and the badge together now brings that to something that, obviously, is priceless to the family.
GUEST:
To the family, right.
APPRAISER:
But if this had to go to auction, it's easily an $800 to $1,200 item.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
So it's just an amazing thing. And he sounds like an amazing guy.
GUEST:
Yeah. Yeah.
Appraisal Details
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