An Important New Orleans Coin Silver Presentation Pitcher and Goblet, Adolphe Himmel (1825/6-1877) for Hyde & Goodrich, wc. 1853-1861, c. 1860, incised mark "H" between "Hyde & Goodrich" in arc and "New Orleans" in arc, the pitcher engraved in high relief with central cartouche surrounded by flowers; the goblet engraved in high relief with four shield-shaped cartouches separated by high relief floral garlands, both inscribed "Presented to Maj. GenL. N.P. Banks, Com dg Dept of the Gulf, by the Teachers and Pupils of the Public Schools of New Orleans, Jefferson City, Gretna and Algiers" and "Commemorative of the Capture of Port Hudson, July 8, 1863", pitcher height 9 5/8 in., goblet height 6 1/2 in., combined total weight 34.8 troy ozs. Provenance: Descended in the Family of Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks (1816-1894). Note: General Nathaniel P. Banks succeeded the notorious General Benjamin F. "Spoons" Butler as Commander of the Department of the Gulf in late 1862 and would remain in that position until fall of 1864 These presentation pieces honor Banks for his army's capture of the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson on July 8, 1863, and were presented by the teachers and pupils of the public schools of the New Orleans area. That same month, Banks had ordered his Chief Quartermaster to turn over all books and engravings captured by the Army to the New Orleans Public School Libraries. (Daily Picayune, August 1, 1863, p.1.) The Daily Picayune of August 16, 1863 reports an event honoring Banks which was hosted by the Union school teachers and school children at The Lyceum. The Hall is described as "richly draped with flags, garlands and evergreens, and the name of Gen. Banks, with the victories achieved by him, appeared in living green upon the walls." The Daily Picayune also reports the presentation of "a silver salver, tankard and goblet." (Daily Picayune, August 16, 1863, p. 3.) The presentation pitcher and goblet offered here are almost assuredly that "tankard and goblet." Notwithstanding the plaudits Banks received in New Orleans in the summer of 1863, the latter part of his career there would be overshadowed by the failure of the Red River Campaign and his army's defeat by Major General Richard Taylor (son of President Zachary Taylor) at the Battle of Mansfield. Hallmarks on the Banks pitcher and goblet indicate manufacture in 1861 or prior: the Hyde & Goodrich partnership was dissolved in 1861, with the remaining partners forming a new partnership, Thomas, Griswold & Co. The pitcher and goblet could, like the books and engravings, have been "captured". (Crescent City Silver. The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, 1980 pp.4-5.)