eBay seller epk ( 696) has posted item no. 260658604117 (New York) with a starting bid of $10,500. The drum appears to be quite a collector's item and described as follows:
"ONE OF ONLY TWO OR POSSIBLY THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF A CIVIL WAR ARTILLERY REGIMENTAL DRUM, UNCUT IN ORIGINAL CONDITION. THIS DRUM IS INSCRIBED "W.P.THORNTON" ON THE EAGLES BREAST SHIELD. BOTH HEADS ARE INTACT AND ON THE TOP DRUM HEAD IS ALSO WRITTEN "WILLIAM P. THORNTON, BATH MAINE". THERE IS ALSO SOME ADDITIONAL PERIOD PENCIL WRITING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE OUT. WILLIAM P. THORNTON WAS BORN IN BATH MAINE IN 1848 AND IS LISTED IN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY DOCUMENTS. I COULD NOT FIND HIS NAME IN THE MAINE REGIMENTAL ROSTER BUT HE MAY HAVE BEEN NOT LISTED BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE FIRST MAINE HEAVY ARTILLERY IS KNOWN AS HAVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CASUALTIES OF ANY REGIMENT IN THE UNION ARMY. THE DRUM IS AUTHENTIC AND RARE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS UNCUT CONDITION. NO SIMILAR EXAMPLE IS SHOWN IN CABA'S DRUM BOOK OR ANY OTHER ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF CIVIL WAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. THERE MAY BE SOME MINOR RETOUCHING OF THE PAINT BUT IT IS OTHERWISE ALL ORIGINAL AND GUARANTEED."
