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19TH
CENTURY BLACK LEATHER SADDLE VALISE – ca. 1850-1870 –
AN EXCELLENT ATTRACTIVE
SPECIMEN APPROPRIATE FOR DISPLAY WITH ANY AMERICAN
MILITARY OFFICERS’ SADDLE OR EARLY POST CIVIL WAR
WESTERN SADDLE:
This Saddle Valise
presents in excellent condition, having defied the
passage of time, the turbulent years of the mid-19TH
century which consumed so much of the early horse
equipment through hard use, and the neglect and poor
storage in the years that followed which eventually
destroyed what little remained.
This valise has all the
appearances of those associated with the antebellum era,
and is certainly of the style carried by US military
officers as early as the War of 1812 and through the
mid-19TH Century across the border and along
the Santa Fe Trail during the Mexican War period, and
this enduring style would be very appropriate to
complete a Civil War Officer’s Saddle – both Union and
Confederate. While not a regulation army pattern, this
valise would have appealed to officers who, of course,
were required to purchase their own horse equipment, and
to those enlisted men who could afford to add to their
issued equipment or brought this sort of equipment from
home.
The use of valises is
well documented during the Civil War years, and it
stands to reason that they did not suddenly fall from
favor and use at the end of the war as the country
turned its attention to the expanding West. However, as
the impressions of so many collectors were first formed
by the Western themed movies, its understandable why we
found it so easy to believe that all the mountain men,
buffalo hunters and cowboys – certainly John Wayne,
Richard Widmark, Clint Eastwood and the rest – survived
in the mountains and on the plains with only what they
could carry in their relatively small saddle bags. What
was never completely explained in the movies was the
transition from the daylight traveling scenes when they
needed little more than their guns, saddle and horse, to
the camp fire scenes at night when they suddenly had a
skillet, coffee pot, cups, a Dutch oven, and all the
makings for biscuits, bacon, beans and coffee…..all
without the benefit or carrying capacity of a pair of
saddlebags the size of Samsonite Luggage or a pack
horse. I have come to suspect valises were far more
common than have been depicted, and they continued in
use in the West, especially among the explorers and
travelers who valued their creature comforts. From a
practical standpoint, a valise such as the one offered
here would be entirely appropriate for display on any of
the post-Civil War civilian saddles and would probably
be more accurate than most Western collectors have been
led to believe.
This valise has survived
in excellent condition - directly attributable to the
maker - constructed of heavy bridle leather and as well
made as any piece of expensive luggage of the period.
This valise was likely one of the more expensive
offerings at the time it was made.
Based on the condition
and the lack of any apparent wear, I am led to believe
this valise was originally collected as “new old stock”
from one of the uniform, saddlery, or military equipment
stores in the East which catered to the officer corps.
As officers were expected to provide their own
uniforming and equipment, there was a brisk trade
conducted at retail shops in any of the large eastern
cities. After the turn of the 20TH Century,
as these shops began to close their remaining stock
passed into the hands of the collecting world, and I
believe such was the case with this valise.
When I purchased it, it
was folded lengthwise and presented as if it had been
packed flat. I surmise that it was one of several
valises manufactured at the same leather shop which were
packed flat, several to a crate or box, and shipped to
the retailer who only unpacked them as he required new
stock for the shelves. This valise was apparently never
unpacked and remained flat until I acquired it.
Fortunately, the leather was still supple and I was able
to expand it to its intended shape. I have positioned
two lightweight wood braces inside the valise which
place no stress on the leather and eventually the valise
will hold its shape without the braces. In the
meantime, the braces are not visible with the valise on
display and do not affect the appearance or integrity of
the valise.
Measuring 18“long, 7 ½” wide, and 7 ¼” high, this is one
of the larger valises that I have handled. The body,
flap, ends and straps are fashioned from substantial
weight leather that is still very supple, and the
leather surfaces are still bright with a shiny finish,
with no crazing or flaking. It is very solid with no
rot or deterioration, and all of the seams are intact.
The two closing straps on the outer flap with their
matching iron buckles are present, intact, and full
length.
On the reverse along the top edge,
there are two heavy leather loops with heavy gauge brass
rings riveted to the back panel, which were used as
anchors for the straps which attached the valise to the
cantle of the saddle.
Valises of this vintage simply did not survive in any
appreciable numbers and finding one this size and in
this remarkable condition is unusual. This
exceptionally nice valise would display quite nicely
with any US military saddle collection, especially
mounted on the cantle of a Ringgold or Grimsley Saddle,
any one of the many saddles used by Civil War Officers,
and the saddles ridden on the Western Frontier.
(0122) $850
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