[MSN] DALLAS - Police are investigating the possible theft of a box of historical artifacts, including a brass spur used by Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

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Dec. 5, 2007, 4:05AM
Santa Anna's brass spur among missing historical artifacts 


C 2007 The Associated Press 

DALLAS - Police are investigating the possible theft of a box of historical
artifacts, including a brass spur used by Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna.

The box of 21 items was reported missing late last week from the Dallas
Historical Society's offices at the Hall of State in Fair Park.

Other missing artifacts are a silver Mexican Medal of Honor from 1836, a
five-star collar insignia worn by Adm. Chester W. Nimitz at the Japanese
surrender ceremony and a Bible belonging to one of Dallas' first families.

The artifacts were grouped together in a box after an awards ceremony in
mid-November.

"At the moment, we're treating this as a theft," police Detective W.B.
Prettyman said. "They looked for the box quite diligently and haven't found
it."

David Rago, a New Jersey-based antiquities dealer, said it would be
difficult for a thief to profit from the items because they require
documentation to prove their value.

"I can't imagine any of that stuff would be easy to sell," he said. "An old
brass dress spur by itself isn't worth a lot of money, unless you know it
came from Santa Anna. It's the story that makes it valuable."

He said anyone who purchased the items would have a hard time reselling
them.

Executive Director Michael Duty said the Historical Society has put out the
word that the spur is missing.

"Even if they had documentation that the spur belonged to Santa Anna, that
would make it even more difficult to sell," Duty said.

Sandra Palomino of Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas said antiquities
dealers must always be aware that the artifacts they're handling may have
been stolen. The business polices itself, making it difficult to resell
suspicious items, she said.

"It's a small community, and there's the Internet," she said. "People are
going to know about it."

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On the Net: Dallas Historical Society, http://www.dallashistory.org/

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Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com