Shipwreck Treasure Hunter Makes Amazing 16-Ton Find With Deep California Roots
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- It wasn't gold, silver or even precious stones that caught the treasure hunter's interest this time but copper. Buried away in a nondescript US Government warehouse lie the original master copper engraving map plates used to create maps for California and other areas in the United States beginning in the 1880's. Authorized by Congress these engravings were typically 17" x 21" were hand-etched by engravers over hundreds of hours, creating true works-of-art to produce the most accurate maps our country for many years.
In 2015, with little fanfare, the US Government decided to dispose of these historical treasures. Some governmental agencies and museums were aware of the disposition and applied to receive some of the engravings with the rest were auctioned off. That's where Benson comes in; he peruses the government auction website regularly and has bid on many unusual and varied items such as a cold- war era, 140-acre underground nuclear-protected complex in Kansas, a small town in the Virginia Mountains formerly used as an NSA - Navy Base and a massive ice-breaking tugboat. In 2013 Benson even bought the USS Baylander, a helicopter landing ship billed as the US Navy's smallest aircraft carrier.
"I first saw the Copper Plates on the government auction website listed, oddly enough, in the jewelry section. What I saw truly amazed me, the plates capture America as it once was, a moment frozen in time. Think of it, Newport Beach, CA - 1894 with just a handful of buildings along the coastline; Malibu, CA - 1900, as a nearly undeveloped coast and also a (back then) "small town" - Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1889. The map plates are national, historic treasures; I am shocked that the US Government would dispose of them. Wouldn't it be a shame if they were melted down for the scrap copper value?"
Benson bought 862 sets of genuine American History encompassing some 44 states; currently he focuses on reaching out to people in the areas they represent to whom, Benson believes will find meaning and pride in owning a part of their local history. Benson has begun advertising California engraving plate collection with an online auction ending March 14th. Keenly aware of the risks of finding lost "treasure," Benson has spent a small fortune acquiring the collection; now hopes he is able to connect with others who care about their area's history. Benson says, "This project isn't about making money, I would be happy just to break-even, it's about saving these local treasures from the trash bin of history."
Media Contact:
Ben Benson
Phone: 561.284.0199
Email: [email protected]
Related Images
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treasure hunter Ben Benson on shipwreck Maravillas
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US Navy helicopter ship Baylander Benson bought at auction
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1894 engraving map plate "Santa Ana, CA"
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closeup of Santa Ana 1894 engraving plate
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SOURCE Ben Benson Collection
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