A Civil War sword from the Fitchburg Historical Society will be on display in England

FITCHBURG -- A Civil War presentation sword owned by the Fitchburg Historical Society will be displayed in England this summer.

The Gilbert Collection in London, England, will exhibit the sword as part of its landmark exhibition, "Bejewelled by Tiffany, 1837 - 1987", said Helen Obermyer Simmons, the society's interim director. The exhibition will run now through Nov. 26 and will introduce Great Britain to the rich history of the jewelry crafted by Tiffany & Company, the internationally renowned New York jeweler.

The Gilbert Collection asked the society to loan the sword for the exhibit in February. The ornate, gold-inlay sword, designed and made by Tiffany, was presented to Col. Edwin Upton by his fellow officers of the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers in 1862 at the end of his service in the Civil War. It has the initials "EU" set in diamonds. Upton's descendants gave the sword to the society in 1942.