Dear VA-ARCH subscribers,

Maureen Meyers brought the following to our attention at Friday's Council
of Virginia Archaeologists meeting:

The Virginia Company, a catalog firm out of Warrenton, sells
Virginia-related products, including Civil War artifacts. Maureen has
provided the following information:

(Page 13 of the 2001 Catalog)
"Authentic Civil War Bullets"
Choose from 3 sets of Civil War relics uncovered on private Virginia
farmland. Set of 4 bullets, set of 2 bullets with buckle, or set of 2
bullets and 2 roundballs. Details of area of discovery are printed on each
box indicating the troops they probably belonged to. #16371 Set of 2
bullets & 2 roundballs $24.95
#9781 Set of 2 bullets & buckle $22.95
#9137 Set of 4 bullets $20.95

In addition, they sell:

"Civil War Antiquities"
Collectible combination of an authentic Civil War Bond Coupon, a photograph
of Robert E. Lee , and 3 bullets found on actual Civil War
battlefields--all framed together under glass. Solid wood frame in black.
#12013 $74.95

I just found that some of these items are also listed on the web page,
under "Civil War Heritage" (http://www.virginiacompany.com/civil-war.html)

At the request of the COVA membership, I am going to write a letter of
protest to the company. I hope that you will take a few minutes to do the
same. Several years ago COVA and ASV participated in a letter-writing
campaign to the Signals and Wireless catalogues re: the same issue and were
successful in getting them to remove Civil War artifacts from their
offerings.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, it's very important to let the
Virginia Company know that it is not acceptable to sell these objects or
support those who do.

Here are the address and phone number:

The Virginia Company
45 Main Street
Warrenton, VA 20186
1-800-568-2746

Thanks,

Carole Nash
COVA President
Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807