PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A waist-length, dark blue wool jacket with scarlet (the artillery branch-of-service color) lace trim and brass buttons. Its 2 1/2" tall collar is trimmed top and bottom with scarlet lace, and has four additional horizontal lace bands proceeding from either forward edge of the collar, each set of two terminating along the sides with a brass button. The eye of a hook-and-eye closure has been retained to one side of the collar. The lace trim continues from the left side of the collar along the button-holed edge of its single-breasted front closure, which has twelve brass buttons arranged along its opposite side. This trim then continues along the base of the jacket from its pointed front, over its short hips, and along the back. Two belt-rest pads (pillows), each 2 1/2" tall, are equidistantly positioned to the base of the back, each having scarlet lace to their upper and lower edges. A band of lace rises from behind each of these pads and arches toward their termination points to the reverse of each shoulder. To each cuff is a horizontal band of scarlet lace, which rise along their outsides to a point. 4" slashes are along the seam of each cuff, with a button and buttonhole above and below each band of lace. These enlisted man’s general service brass buttons, established in 1854 and identical to those along the front closure and to either side of the collar, are 9/16" in diameter and each feature the American coat-of-arms. Remarkably, all appear to have their original stitching. The interior is lined in loosely woven, light brown wool, with the exception of the sleeves, which are lined in white cotton. A vertical slash pocket, also lined in white cotton, is along the interior of the left forward panel. An indistinguishable oval ink stamp and the number "2" (size) may be seen to the lining of the upper right sleeve. The wool lining is torn and frayed in several places near the upper back and collar. The white cotton lining is unsurprisingly age soiled and yellowed. The blue wool exterior has typical nap wear and light age soiling, but, remarkably, appears to have no holes or moth nips. Very nice example.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $2,235.00