The Virginian by Oneida Sterling

circa 1942

No monogram

Initially, this set of flatware was virtually unrecognizeable as sterling. With the exception of the knife blades, every surface was a steely, gunmetal gray color. It was housed in a reinforced cardboard 'silver-keeper' box (that frankly, didn't do its job)

I had a fresh manicure and was seriously considering sending this set straight to the 'melt bucket' until my friend told me the story behind it.

An older gentleman had just come into the store that afternoon. He was the only son of a woman in her 80s. Due to declining health, he was forced to move her into an assisted living facility and dispose of all possessions that she couldn't take with her.

This set had been a wedding present to his parents when they were married in 1943. His father was killed at the Battle of Leyte a little over a year later while stationed aboard the USS St. Louis. His mother never remarried and she never again used the sterling... I guess it had too many memories.

But now its time for this lovely set to once again see the light of day and finally find a home with happy memories where laughter abounds.

It took me a solid 7 hours to get this set clean and once again gleaming... and my manicure is toast... but I am very pleased to present a sterling service that is as close to 'new' as it gets.

The Virginian pattern is just exquisite - very distinctive yet emminently tasteful. Please take a good look at the two close-up pictures of the handles. It is beautifully designed... and the mirror-polished surfaces are brilliant.

Now for the particulars.

8 Knives - 9 1/4 inches

8 forks - 7 1/4 inches

8 teaspoons - 6 inches

6 salad forks - 6 3/8 inches

3 very large serving spoons

I just checked on Ebay and there are tons of serving pieces in this pattern available... probably not in as good a shape... but certainly available.

There is no storage case for this sterling but if you are in need of one, they can usually be found in thrift shops or right here on Ebay. However, if I were you, due to the mirror polished surfaces, I would store them in silverkeeper wraps to minimize scratching.

The case shown in the photos (and a close-up the very last photo) is a custom case made for The Marshall White Company in Chicago and is available in another auction. It is a cream and tan heavy weight resin or plastic.

Please view the pictures carefully. I generally take my photographs outside in sunlight to accurately depict the colors and conditions of the items I am offering. If you see any discolorations or other anomalies that would indicate damage, it is either the sun, the clouds, the trees, or me.

I try to fully and faithfully disclose any irregularities I find but I am far from perfect and some things may escape my detection. Also, when damage (no matter how minute) I try to make sure that it is clearly depicted in the photos.

I never know what the postage calculator is going to come up with but shipping for this sterling will be a flat-rate of $15.50 plus insurance here in the United States. Naturally, international shipping will be significantly higher.

I believe that I have described the above auction offering accurately and in detail. Please consult the photographs or Email me with any questions.

My word is my bond. If you are unhappy with your purchase, please contact me within 3 business days to arrange return and a refund of your purchase price. Shipping charges are not refundable.

The sterling that I am currently listing are not my property and as such, I am unable to make a 'deal' or entertain a 'Best Offer' scenario. They belong to a friend who is in the precious metals business. He has a warehouse that is stockpiled with sterling items that he has purchased over the last 28 years of business, including more than 100 different silver flatware sets. With the soaring price of silver, he had decided to send them all to the smelter to be melted down.

Instead, I convinced him to let me try to offer them on Ebay so that they would not be destroyed. I know that there are silver lovers out there that wish to harken back to the days of genteel dining and gracious living. Besides, I have come to genuinely appreciate anything that is older than me and still survives.

Due to recent complications with International bidders and shipping policies, I will only ship via Express Mail International with full insurance. I WILL NOT alter the final bid price on the required customs forms.

Now for an unpleasant disclosure of terms:

Due to the emergence of unscrupulous, dishonest bidders (thieves) I am forced to request than any bidders on my auctions accept and respond to Emails requesting verification of their bid and sometimes a verifiable telephone number. The aforementioned bidders have bid and won my auctions, paid by credit card via PayPal, received and signed for the merchandise, then filed an 'unauthorized' charge with their credit card company, but still refusing to return the auction items. PayPal is NOT protecting sellers in this capacity and is aiding and abetting these criminals.

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