RARE! Antique 14kt Gold Elks Lodge Card Holder (39.97 Grams)

This lot contains an antique 14kt gold Elks Lodge card holder that weighs approximately 39.97 grams or 1.41 ounces or 25.7 dwt (pennyweight). The diamonds have been removed, but the rubies are still in tact, but damaged. The card holder has been acid tested and filed into during testing to assure it's authenticity, so it does have scratches, gouges, and stains due to that process. The photo of Adolph E. DeCortin is an image pulled from the internet, so it's not a physical photo that is included in this auction. This lot is only for the gold card holder.

The gold card holder was given to Past Exalted Elks Ruler Adolph Edward DeCortin by the members of the Lodge of Elk's No.842 in Mount Vernon, New York as a token of their esteem on June 5th, 1912. The letters "B.P.O.E" on this piece stand for the Benevolent an Protective Order of Elks.

Mr.DeCortin was born on December 19th, 1876 in Westchester County, New York. He was elected to Alderman from the 4th Ward, Mount Vernon (1911). He was also a decorated firefighter and had been the oldest living past exalted ruler of the Mount Vernon Elks. Formerly of 16 Elm Street, Mount Vernon, he had lived there five years and attended Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. After leaving Mount Vernon, he lived in the Bronx for 13 years, then moved to Mamaroneck in 1961 where he lived at 210 Fenimore Road. Mr.DeCortin was a member of John Stewart Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, and also of the Lithographers and Photoengravers Union. After retiring as a photoengraver he became an employee of the New York Journal-American and for the New York Daily News. Mr.DeCortin was the last survivor of a family of eight children. His wife, the former Marie Albers, pre-deceased him. Mr.DeCortin passed away on October 18th, 1965 at the age of 88 in Mount Vernon, New York. He is buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

The gold card holder was designed and created for Mr.DeCortin by Alfred Schickerling who was the founder of the Alfred Schickerling Jewelry Company which was located at 51 Maiden Lane, an east-west street in New York City’s Financial District, also know as the The Epicenter of the Jewelry Trade at the time. And the card holder was patented November 22nd, 1910.

Alfred Schickerling's brother, Conrad Schickerling, was a mounter of diamond jewelry and eventually formed a partnership with his brother Alfred around September 1st, 1899, under the name Schickerling Brothers. The new firm planned on continuing business as before at the same address.

Conrad Schickerling ran into some trouble though, according to several articles written back then, which possibly ended the brothers’ partnership. In June of 1906, The New York Times reported that Conrad was in the Tombs Court, charged with stealing $6,000. Deputy Assistant Attorney Vandiver told the Magistrate that the prisoner was a member of a gang that swindled Maiden Lane jewelers out of diamonds worth $200,000. The bulk of the evidence came to light after the prosecution of Joseph and Morris Klein, two wholesale jewelers who pleaded guilty. Their businesses failed after they swindled other diamond dealers out of large sums. Some of these stolen diamonds were traced to a pawn shop not far from New York City Hall.

Gustave A. Edelhoff of Edelhoff Brothers & Company Jewelers brought charges against Conrad Schickerling, who he claims came to him for a large quantity of diamonds to create a lorgnette chain for a bank president. Edelhoff agreed to supply him the diamonds and obtained them from another Maiden Lane jeweler, Henry E. Oppenheimer. Several days passed and Edelhoff hadn’t heard from Schickerling, so he visited him and found out he had pawned the diamonds at the shop near City Hall for $6,000. The article mentioned that Schickerling had jewelry manufacturing locations at 31 W. 31st Street and 28 E. 22nd Street, but oddly didn’t mention the Maiden Lane address. Edelhoff declared bankruptcy as a result of this debacle.

Four years later, Conrad was acquitted of these charges so perhaps it was a big misunderstanding and he was a scapegoat. By then though, the damage was done and Conrad was doing business in Newark, New Jersey.

By 1920, Alfred Schickerling had set up shop in Tribeca (a neighborhood in lower Manhattan in New York City) in the Jewelry Crafts Building at 45 Lispenard Street where he continued his mastering his talent and passion for manufacturing stunning fraternal jewelry for the Elks, Masons, Odd Fellows, and others.

An article in the October 6th, 1920 Jewelers’ Circular detailed a robbery at the Jewelry Crafts Building in which six jewelry firms lost merchandise to thieves. In the process of their thievery, the robbers nearly demolished three large safes, destroyed a number of locks, broke six windows, and blew one of Alfred Schickerling’s office desks to smithereens. According to the report, Schickerling lost the following pieces:

-A platinum Shepard dog scarf pin with 60 diamonds,
-10kt gold Elk button
-Sterling & gold Halliwire
-Rolled gold
-Six Elk teeth
-Precious stones & pearls
-Three 14kt hand carved wedding rings
-White gold diamond mounted Elk buttons
-Diamond mounted scarf pin
-Tiffany-style diamond ring

A brief history of the Elks...
The moving spirit for the Elks was an Englishman named Charles Algernon Sidney Vivian. Born October 22, 1842, this son of a clergyman was a successful comic singer and dancer in the music halls of London. In November 1867, Vivian arrived in New York City to try his fortune.

Other actors and entertainers soon gravitated toward his magnetic personality. With everything closed on Sunday because of New York City Blue Laws, a group of theatrical people began meeting for their own amusement under Vivian's leadership. A loose organization was formed to make sure the larder was well-stocked for these gatherings. They called themselves the Jolly Corks, a name derived from a trick introduced by Vivian in which the uninitiated purchased a round of refreshments.

When one of their members died shortly before Christmas in 1867, leaving his wife and children destitute, the Jolly Corks decided that in addition to good fellowship, they needed a more enduring organization to serve those in need.

On February 16, 1868, they established the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and elected Vivian to head it. It's social activities and benefit performances increased the popularity of the new Order. Membership grew rapidly. Elks traveling to other cities spread the word of the Brotherhood of Elks. Soon there were requests for Elks Lodges in cities other than New York. In response to these appeals, the Elks asked the New York State legislature for a charter authorizing the establishment of a Grand Lodge with the power to establish local Lodges anywhere in the United States. When the Grand Lodge Charter was issued, the founders then received the first local charter as New York Lodge No. 1 on March 10, 1871.

The legacy of Charles Vivian continues to this day. In addition to aiding members in distress, the Elks raise money for children with disabilities, college scholarships, youth projects, and recreational programs for patients in veteran’s hospitals.

On June 14, 1907, the Order held a Flag Day observance. This tradition later was declared a national holiday by President Harry S. Truman.

During World War I, the Elks funded and equipped the first two field hospitals in France and built a 72-room community house in Camp Sherman, Ohio, and a 700-bed rehabilitation hospital in Boston, which they turned over to the War Department. They also raised money for the Salvation Army’s frontline canteens. Their loans to 40,000 returning veterans for college, rehabilitation and vocational education were the precursors of the G.I. Bill.

When World War II broke out, the Elks were the only civilian organization asked to help recruit construction workers for the military, a task that was completed three months ahead of schedule. The Elks also contributed more than half a million books to the Merchant Marines so that their men would have reading material on board ship.

The Korean War again brought out the best in the Elks. They donated more than half a million pints of blood to help wounded soldiers.

When the wounded from Vietnam needed help, the Elks responded. They provided the funds for a recreation pavilion at the Navy Hospital on Guam. The wounded at Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii were sweltering in the heat. When the Elks heard of their plight, they purchased 24 air-conditioning units so these patriots could recuperate in some degree of comfort.

When Operation Desert Storm took place, the Elks again led the support for our fighting men and women in the Persian Gulf. Subordinate Lodges undertook letter-writing campaigns to help keep up the spirits of the defenders of freedom. The Elks were also among the first to welcome them home and thank them for a job well done.

The Elks story is long; their work is humble; their history is proud. As long as there are those who need help, the Elks will be there to give aid and comfort.

Some famous Elks are Eli Manning, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Gene Autry, Knute Rockne, Babe Ruth, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Whitey Ford, Clint Eastwood, Harry Houdini, Warren Harding, Arnold Palmer, Walter Cronkite, Buffalo Bill Cody, Bob Dole, Honus Wagner, Will Rogers, Jim Cramer, and many more.

As for where the name (Elks) came from, that's fairly straight forward. Since it's founding on February 16th, 1868, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) has been recognized by the noble creature that is the symbol of the Order. The elk is a peaceful animal, but will rise in defense of it's own in the face of a threat. The majestic creature is fleet of foot and keen of perception. A most fitting representation, the stately elk is, for a distinctively American, intensely patriotic, family oriented organization subscribing to the cardinal principles of Elkdom, "Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity." The 15 Founders of the B.P.O.E. desired a readily identifiable creature of stature, indigenous to America. A close vote resulted in the adoption of the name of "Elks."


In general, all items may or may not have been damaged by water, smoke, mold, insects, mishandling, animal chewing, cracks, nicks, dings, dents, rips, marks, stains, divots, waviness, creases, scratches, etc.

***Please look at the attached photos for size and condition. Photos are part of the description representing the condition report and can be used for authentication prior to the sale date. We urge bidder's to view all attached photos in detail. All items are sold "AS IS". Thank you for your interest and good luck bidding.

Notes: Please inspect all photos carefully before bidding. Thank you for your interest and good luck bidding.

$900 - $1,400

Poor condition

18%

Mike Marsullo | (860) 997-3332 | fil14fy@gmail.com

Pickup Details

Shipping Available

Private Residence

Torrington, CT 06790

When to Pickup

Saturday, 8/13, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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