For Sale 2nd South Carolina 90mm figurine Imrie Risley Mint American Revolution

[AntiJihadistCrusader]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251770177734


Low starting price. A figure this scale usually sells from 40.00-90.00. These figures were priced at about 60 back in 1976-
Private 2nd South Carolina Regiment in 90mm or 1/18th scale.
Built figure in pewter, it can be painted as a model soldier would be after assembly, since the figure is already assembled the cleaning,asembly,filling of gaps. Coating with primer and painting would be the next steps. ..
Figure cast in pewter by Imrie/ Risley part of the Franklin Mint set of thirteen solid pewter figurines, titled "The Fighting Men of the American Revolution". Issued in 1976, those figurines represented one soldier from each of the original thirteen colonies. The soldiers average 4" , 90 mm or scale 1/18 and were beautifully crafted with many fine details and facial expressions, naturally posed, great motion in action poses and correct proportions. This figure represents one of the best products, in terms of sculpting and casting of model soldiers parts, in the 1970's. The base shows the famous "IR" of masters Bill Imrie and Clyde Risley of Imrie/Risley Miniatures. Each is a limited edition and has the Franklin Mint mark on the underside This is a limited edition figure, only around 5,000 were made. At the time of purchase, they were about $60 each.
I/R
Bill Imrie was a pioneer in the field of miniature soldier collecting. He spent his life researching the world's military history. At age 24, after earning a business degree, Bill Imrie decided to pursue his passion for history by creating miniature soldiers full-time. Imrie Custom Miniatures, run by Imrie and his wife, Helen, was formed in 1947 as a home-based business in Greenwich Village.

In 1963, after partnering with Pratt Institute artist and fellow military enthusiast Clyde Risley, Imrie/Risley Miniatures was born. Quite possibly the oldest miniature soldier company in the United States, Imrie/Risley Miniatures, from The Saratoga Soldier in New York currently sells more than 1,000 different 54mm (1/32 scale) pewter model kits and about 25 75mm kits, complete with detailed directions and full-color Risley illustrations.

Bill did all the research and fine detail work while Clyde sketched the general concepts.

Prior to founding his company, Bill Imrie was commissioned to create a figure of Samuel de Champlain, which was presented to Princess Beatrix of the Royal Family of the Netherlands at the opening of the Champlain Canal. In 1976, for America's bicentennial celebration, Franklin Mint commissioned Imrie/Risley to create 13 pewter figures, each representing one of the original American colonies.

Dioramas of Imrie/Risley Miniatures have graced The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and permanent exhibits can be seen at Fort William Henry in Lake George, New Windsor Cantonment in Kingston, Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, Mass,, and Trenton Barracks in Trenton, N.J..
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The 2nd South Carolina Regiment
in the Revolutionary War

...

From the website of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment re enactment association:
At the request of the Continental Congress, the Provincial Congress of South Carolina met in June of 1775 to raise two regiments of infantry. William Moultrie, a veteran officer from the French and Indian War, was appointed Colonel commanding the 2nd Regiment. Junior officers were quickly appointed, among them Capt. Francis Marion. Within days, the officers were sent into the countryside to begin recruiting.
On September 13, in the first act of the armed rebellion in South Carolina, several companies of the 1st and 2nd Regiments were ordered to capture Ft. Johnson, located on James Island to the south of the Charleston Harbor entrance. Landing ashore from boats, they rushed the fort, only to find the doors open, with a small British guard waiting to surrender the fort.
In February 1776, Governor Edward Rutledge ordered a fort to be built on the southern end of Sullivan's Island, guarding the northern approaches to Charleston Harbor. The work progressed steadily, but the palmetto-log structure was still incomplete by the summer, when a large British invasion fleet appeared of the coast.
On July 28, 1776, after several weeks of skirmishing and feints, the British, under Gen. Sir Henry Clinton and Adm. Sir Peter Parker, launched a combined naval and land attack on Sullivan's Island. While Clinton's men attempted an unsuccessful amphibious assault on the northern end of the island, Parker's fleet of ten armed vessels bombarded the palmetto-log fort, garrisoned by the 2nd Regiment, with assistance from the 4th Regiment of Artillery. The 250 guns of the British fleet opened fire around 10 AM; the 2nd Regiment answered with a slow but deliberate and deadly accurate fire, largely directed by now-Major Francis Marion. An eyewitness wrote, "A most tremendous cannonade ensued...Col. Moultrie, with 344 regulars and a few volunteer militia, made a defense that would have done honor to experienced veterans." During the attack, the American flagstaff was shot away. Sergeant William Jasper tied the Americans' flag (deep blue with a crescent and the word "LIBERTY" in white) to a sponge staff and planted it defiantly upon the parapet of the fort. With firing being almost continuous until early evening, the battle finally ended around 9 PM. The British suffered severe losses: one ship sunk, all ships suffering major damage, and 200 men killed or wounded. In contrast, the palmetto-log fort had been largely unharmed, and American losses were placed at around 35 killed or wounded. This action was one of the greatest defeats for the British Navy in its history.
The 2nd Regiment was immediately recognized for its gallant action. On July 1, 1776, The regiment was presented a pair of silk colors by Mrs. Bernard Elliott. The Colors were "an elegant pair of colors... one of a fine blue silk, the other of a fine red silk, richly embroidered." In presenting the colors, Mrs. Elliot declared, "Your gallant behavior in Defense of Liberty & your Country Entitles you to the Highest Honours . . ."
The 2nd Regiment spent most of the next three years in garrison duty in and around Charleston, occasionally venturing into the field to meet British threats in the Lowcountry between Charleston and Savannah. During this time, William Moultrie was promoted to Brigadier General; by 1778, Francis Marion had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was appointed commander of the regiment.
On October 9, 1779, the blue colors were lost in the Battle of Spring Hill Redoubt during the French and American Siege of Savannah. Four color bearers were lost in the action. A Captain in the Royal American Regiment wrote "at the assault on Spring Hill redoubt, Lieutenant Bush being wounded handed the blue color to Sergeant Jasper. Jasper, who had already received a bullet, was then mortally wounded, but returned the color to Bush who the next minute fell, yet even in the moment of death attempted to protect the flag which was afterwards found beneath him. No one could have done more, and the color hallowed by the blood of Bush and Jasper, deserves to be deposited under a consecrated roof". Jasper managed to carry the red color off the field, but died the next day of his wounds. The blue color was for many years at the museum of the 60th Regiment, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, at Winchester, England. It has since been returned to this country and is on alternating display at the Smithsonian Institute and the South Carolina State Museum.
The regiment continued to serve until it was surrendered with the Southern Army at the fall of Charleston in May, 1780. The regiment’s traditions of resourcefulness and bravery continued on in the exploits of Francis Marion, the former commandant of the 2nd Regiment who continued fighting as the “The Swamp Fox” in legendary guerrilla campaigns until the British were finally driven out of South Carolina in 1782.