Militaria collectors and investors are expected to gather in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania on February 21 for a wide ranging auction with a military focus.

The Presidents' Day Antiques and Collectibles Auction, run by Jack Hamblin Auctions, will feature an impressive array of militaria including swords, fighting knives and bayonets.

An amazing collection of civil war militaria will be the highlight of the event.

The personal papers and effects of civil war Union army officer Captain David Ayers and Private John Jacobus of the 7th NJ Volunteers are expected to be hotly contested. Items include military paper and photos including a glass plate portrait of Captain Ayers, civil war military records and certificates. There are also three pieces of original civil war uniform and an 1857 copy of the US Constitution with cameo portraits of all presidents to that date.

Insignia from the cap and shoulder boards of Captain Ayers' uniform

Other military items include war ration books, large boxes of military and other paper and pamphlets and a Japanese Second World War officer's sword.

The auction will see an amazing array of non-military items go under the hammer. These include an excellent selection of sports memorabilia including baseball cards, world series tickets, photos and autographs.

There are also a number of items of jewellery, coins and stamps, art and furniture for sale.

Civil war items are currently proving popular with investors of all types - around $15,000 worth of civil war militaria was stolen from an antiques shop in the historic Kentucky town of Perryville on the weekend. The looters made off with civil war belt buckles, confederate money and arrowheads.