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CIVIL WAR UNION ARTILLERY MAN’S
SHELL JACKET – VERY NICE CONDITION w/ GOVERNMENT SIZE
AND INSPECTOR’S STAMP:
One of the signature uniforms of the Civil War, the
Mounted Enlisted Man’s Shell Jacket featuring tailored
lines and trimmed in piping of the color of the branch
of service – orange for dragoon, green for mounted
rifles, yellow for cavalry, and red for artillery – was
at the same time one of the most attractive, and
comfortable uniform coats of the war. Far lighter than
the heavier frock and sack coats characteristically worn
by the foot soldiers, the fitted lines defined by the
colored piping presented a dashing appearance when worn
by the mounted troopers.
This Shell Jacket has survived the years
in very good condition with very little evidence of wear
or aging. The blue wool is in very good condition
overall, very solid no weak points, all of the seams are
intact, and both of the sabre belt supports – often
referred to as “pillows” are both present and intact on
the back of the jacket. All of the standard US Army
general service brass buttons are present on collar,
front seam, and on the functional cuffs, All the
buttons are full form with no dents or depressions.
Other than one small moth hole on the crest of the right
shoulder, and two moth small holes at the right elbow,
the jacket is otherwise free from any insect damage.
The body of the jacket is fully lined
with a dark blue wool material that has a higher nap
than the wool that is used for the exterior of the
jacket. The lining is complete, with a small wear spot
inside the right shoulder and a small wear point inside
the right hip area. The sleeves are fully lined in
natural cotton cloth and the lining in both sleeves is
complete with no damage. There is a deep slash pocket
lined with natural colored cotton cloth on the inside
left front edge of the jacket.
The right sleeve is ink stamped with the
numeral “2” indicating the size. Either the tool used
to apply the stamp, or the ink used to make the stamp,
caused the material to deteriorate in the exact shape of
the numeral “2”, so for the most part what is left is a
reverse outline of the number. When you look at the
number, it appears to be a complete numeral “2” printed
in black ink, but what you are seeing is the outline,
however the outline is very distinct. The inspector’s
initials are stamped adjacent to the size numeral and it
is intact. There are none of the costume company
stencils that are so often found inked on the interior
linings of these jackets.
The bright red trim on the collar and
the “V” shaped red trim on the back of the jacket is
completely intact. The red trim on cuffs is intact with
some minor moth nips. The red trim along front opening
is intact with some minor moth nips and one wear spot
where the carbine sling or sabre belt shoulder strap
would have worn against the trim. The red trim along
the bottom edge of the jacket has wear at the left rear
hip just outside the left “pillow” – most probably from
being chafed by the soldier’s sabre belt. The red trim
on belt supports, or pillows, on the back of the jacket
have some minor moth nips.
This is a very attractive specimen of a
government issued Artillery Enlisted Man’s Shell Jacket
and while showing true evidence of use by a soldier, has
survived in very good condition.
SOLD
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