Frequently Asked Questions

Gary Hendershott is a premier dealer, curator, and museum consultant specializing in historical Americana. With over 50 years of expertise, he serves collectors, museums, and institutions worldwide from Palm Beach, Florida. He is the author of "Fakes and Scoundrels," a reference work on authentication, and a documentary filmmaker. He has owned the personal effects of George Washington, Robert E. Lee, JEB Stuart, George Custer, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and Ulysses S. Grant.

Gary specializes in museum-quality historical Americana across nine collection categories: presidential memorabilia, Civil War artifacts, Old West collectibles, historic firearms, swords and battle flags (including the renowned Gladium Collection), Native American historical material, documents and manuscripts, World War II military history, and ancient world antiquities including the Alexander the Great collection.

Gary offers discreet sale and consignment services for collectors, heirs, and estates with important historical material. His approach emphasizes keeping lifelong collections intact rather than dispersing them at auction. To begin a conversation, contact Gary by email at garyhendershott@gmail.com, by phone at 561-345-9854, or through the inquiry form on his website. All inquiries are handled with complete confidentiality.

Authentication involves rigorous provenance research, physical examination, documentary research, contextual analysis, and expert consultation. Gary draws on 50+ years of direct market experience and has authored "Fakes and Scoundrels," a reference work covering authentication of guns, paintings, swords, autographs, coins, and militaria. Every item he handles is accompanied by thorough documentation of its chain of ownership and historical context.

The Gladium Collection is Gary Hendershott's assembly of the greatest American swords ever collected. It includes presentation swords, general officer swords, Confederate naval swords, King George IV of England's sword, and Revolutionary War edged weapons. The collection is considered one of the most important private assemblages of historic American swords ever brought to market.

Gary has served as a trusted consultant to over 20 major museums and historical institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution and National Portrait Gallery, the Library of Congress, the Museum of the Confederacy, the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming, Crystal Bridges Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, the National Civil War Museum, the Virginia Historical Society, Yale Beinecke Library, Custer Battlefield Museum, Pamplin Historical Park, and Tennessee State Museum.

Gary provides consulting and brokerage services for a 20% agent's commission. This covers authentication, provenance research, fair market valuation, inventory organization, buyer and seller communication, and fully insured delivery. There are no buyer's premiums or hidden fees — all prices are net. Interest-free layaway is available for both private collectors and museums, typically structured in three equal payments.

Any item purchased from Gary Hendershott may be returned for any reason within seven days of receipt for a full and immediate refund. This policy applies to straight purchases; items on layaway are not returnable once payments begin.

Yes. Antique firearms made before 1898 are exempt from FFL requirements. Firearms manufactured after 1898 are transferred through a licensed C&R (Curio & Relic) FFL dealer in full compliance with federal law. The dealer handles the transfer and shipping. C&R designation applies to collectible firearms with demonstrable historical interest.

"Fakes and Scoundrels" is a reference book written by Gary Hendershott for collectors, museum curators, and historians. It covers authentication and common pitfalls across multiple collecting categories: guns, paintings, swords, autographs, coins, and militaria. The book draws on five decades of firsthand dealer experience and documents real cases of fraud including the Donald R. Tharpe insurance fraud scheme that deceived museums, collectors, dealers, and banks.

B-4112: The Blue Diamonds — A Quest for Diamonds in World Wars is a book by Gary Lynn Hendershott that weaves the story of rare wartime blue diamonds together with the Holocaust survival of Richard Friedemann, Gary's close friend. The title refers to the Birkenau inmate number B-4112 tattooed on Richard's arm at sixteen when he entered Auschwitz. Richard endured seven Nazi death camps, including Auschwitz and Dachau, and was the sole survivor of his family. A companion documentary based on the same research accompanies the book.

Provenance is the documented chain of ownership and custody for a historical artifact, tracing it back to its origin or a known historical context. For serious collectors and museums, provenance is essential — it establishes authenticity, historical significance, and fair market value. An artifact without provenance is difficult to authenticate, harder to value accurately, and typically worth a fraction of a comparable piece with documented history.

Yes. Gary ships worldwide with full insurance on every package. Domestic shipping is handled via USPS, FedEx, or UPS at the client's preference. International shipments comply with all applicable export regulations. Firearms are shipped by the FFL dealer in accordance with federal and state law.

Appraisals are available for historical artifacts, documents, firearms, and complete collections. Contact Gary directly with a description of the items, high-quality photographs, and any provenance documentation you have. He can perform evaluations for insurance purposes, estate planning, acquisition decisions, or personal knowledge. Written evaluation reports are available.

Gary Hendershott is based in Palm Beach, Florida. He serves clients worldwide through direct correspondence, phone consultations, and in-person meetings by appointment. His business operates internationally, with museum and collector relationships across the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond.