PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE IN THE OFFICE Through TUESDAY 09/16,
AFTER That Date, We Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/17 until TUESDAY OCTOBER 7th!!
Ron Will Be OUT OF THE OFFICE from WEDNESDAY 09/10 until FRIDAY OCTOBER 10th!!
So there MAY be SHIPPING DELAYS on MILITARIA Orders Placed AFTER 09/10 through 10/10!!
BUT We Will DEFINITELY Be ABLE TO SHIP Orders Placed Through TUESDAY 09/09,
And MIGHT Be ABLE TO SHIP ORDERS Placed through MONDAY 09/15, But After That we CANNOT SHIP Until TUESDAY 10/07!!
Update 09/09/25: WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH non-PayPal CREDIT CARD PURCHASES!!
BIG WEBSITE CHANGES are in the works and this Issue WILL BE CORRECTED sometime in OCTOBER!!
If you would like to PAY for an Artifact valued at OVER $100.00 with a CREDIT CARD, please email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP!
We are HAPPY TO ACCEPT YOUR ORDERS during this time, and we will promptly SHIP MOST orders within ONE Business Day of Receipt of Payment!
And, as always, if you would like to fund your $100.00+ order through a Bank that offers ZELLE, ASK ABOUT our ZELLE DISCOUNT!!
That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order payments!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
We look forward to serving your collecting needs, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
Probably the most beautiful lawman badge I have ever seen, 18K & 14K yellow and white gold, with five prong-set 20 point Diamonds and one 1.5+ Karat bezel set Diamond at the center. The Diamonds are all early Brilliant Cuts, and the center diamond grades conservatively at SI1, but it is hard to see the 2 tiny feathers inside the stone even under magnification. The color of the central stone is a G (I didn't study the 5 outer Diamonds as closely so cannot comment on their grade or color). The edges of the five point, ball-tip badge are intricately detailed with lovely scroll designs and the badge is style accented with contrasting ball-tips of 18K white gold, a six pointed star in the center, and raised lettering encircling the center that reads: "SHERIFF OF SANGAMON CO." and the letters feature delicate embellishments. The badge was made for the Sheriff of Sangamon County, Illinois, Meredith J. Rhule in 1946 when he served one term as sheriff of the county after his return from being a member of the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in the CBI (China-Burma-India) Theater during WWII. The reverse of the badge reads: "PRESENTED TO MEREDITH J. RHULE DEC. 2 1946 FROM HIS FRIENDS".
Rhule was named chief deputy of the county in 1942, but joined the United States Navy as a lieutenant and soon became affiliated with the OSS and deployed to the CBI Theater. Rhule is quoted in the Illinois State Register recounting his wartime duties: "My job was to gather intelligence for the OSS on espionage, sabotage and planned assassinations…often it meant parachuting behind Japanese lines and hiding out for months while I did my spying." During his time in the CBI, Rhule was well known for keeping a pet monkey named Dudley and Frank Sinatra's movie Never So Few about the WWII operations in China features a character that wears his hat in the same fashion as Rhule and kept the company of a pet monkey.
Rhule was awarded the Bronze Star from the United States and the Order of Cloud and Banner and Order of Jade from Chiang Kai-Shek. Rhule's term as sheriff was cut short after an investigation into gambling in the state discovered that Rhule had admittedly turned a blind eye to it in his County. Officials scoured his office before the end of his term, during which time Rhule began to crack down on gambling in the state, though he did not seek reelection the following term...Rhule never denied or admitted accepting money from gambling king pins of the time.
Information and photo referenced from Sangamon County Online History
Sangamon County Gambling History
VINTAGE:
Circa 1946
SIZE:
Approximately 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Multi-piece, riveted construction, 18K & 14K gold, five 20 point brilliant cut diamonds, and one 1.5+ karat brilliant cut diamond. total weight 37.8 Grams.
ATTACHMENT:
Vertical pin with Tiffany style catch
MARKINGS:
"18K", "14K", "MADE BY WEXLER"
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a police and law enforcement collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. CON-KDB-20-16 LADIGEX2/16 S/LAEIGEX3/16 SLAGJJJX11/16 SACJJJX4/17
CONDITION:
9- (Excellent+): The badge shows minor wear/age, the diamonds are bright and beautiful, as is the gold – overall excellent condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
