Maine militia items fetch $10K at auction

PORTLAND – Two hat plates that belonged to Maine militia members in the early 1800s fetched nearly $10,000 at auction.

The brass and gold-plated hat plates were from the private collection of William H. Guthman of Westport, Conn. Guthman had collected militia memorabilia for the past 40 years.

The hat plates were sold Sunday at Sotheby’s January Americana auction.

The gold-plated tombstone hat plate from the Westbrook Artillery features a blue eagle. It sold for $7,200.

The brass hat plate with the Maine coat of arms sold for $2,160.

The entire collection sold for $989,826.

Among the highest-selling items were militia dragoon helmets, which sold for $45,000, and a pair of silver-on-iron shoe buckles from the inauguration of George Washington, which sold for $24,000.