Civil War Toy Spy Glass

During the Civil War, everybody was spying on everybody else, and little was done on either side to stop the enemy's espionage. Shoe clerks, lawyers, grande dames, actresses, even housewives—all joined in the espionage game, and many survived to tell about it. This generation that revered the romantic novelists and poets made up the rules as they went along and adhered to a "gentleman's code" of conduct.

The capitals of the North and South, Washington and Richmond, lay only 100 miles apart and were obvious targets for spies. With the creation of the Signal Bureau; men using blue and red flags carried on an unending correspondence in cipher signaling to men with spyglasses. An invaluable tool in the game of espionage, the spyglass was frequently used by both sides to observe enemy camps, troop movements, and battle positions.

This fully functional spy glass with faux wood-grain finish includes a map of historic battles.

• Meets CPSIA safety standards.