VERY RARE, CIVIL WAR FEDERAL MOUNTED SIGNALMAN'S SHELL JACKET WITH ITS ORIGINAL MOUNTED TROUSERS

$35,000.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 433-04

This extremely rare Civil War Signal Corps shell jacket with its original pair of saddled trousers is one of only three sets known to exist and was once part of the extensive James Stamatelos collection of Civil War memorabilia. Of uncommon quality, both the enlisted signalman's jacket and mounted trousers are in very fine original condition. Original Signal Corps uniforms from the Civil War are seldom seen in the collecting community today.

The shell jacket, also called a fatigue jacket or roundabout, features an original and extremely rare Signal Corps dress chevron of crossed signal flags sewn to the upper left sleeve. The six-panel jacket specimen is made of a fine wool satinet material dyed a deep, vibrant, indigo blue color. The jacket's front closure features a single-breasted row of eleven, brass eagle-"Shield" cuff buttons down the front. All buttons are in excellent condition and all are unmarked but retain their original stitching to the jacket. Button closure holes are very good with two holes (top & 4th) exhibiting some separation and tearing from use. All others tight and strong. A short, 1" high collar sits at the neck. Jacket condition is fine overall with scattered areas of thinning and a number of tiny moth nips overall, especially on the left sleeve.

Featured on the left sleeve's upper area is the remarkably intact and colorful Signal Corps crossed-flags dress chevron or insignia. Each of the 2¼" high crossed flag staffs are hand sewn in white twine while their attached signal flags are of white and red tightly woven cloth material. Signal flags are sewn directly to a 2½" square piece of the same deep blue satinet uniform cloth that was hand-stitched to the jacket sleeve. Regulations called for the white signal flag to have a small (1/4") square of red cloth centered in the body while the red signal flag had a small white center square. Regulations also required the insignia on the left uniform sleeve with the white flag towards the front or left-facing. The outer edge of each signal flag, as well as the small center square, is trimmed with thin brass twisted wire. This extremely rare insignia is in very excellent condition. No other insignia or rank devices adorn the jacket. Each sleeve is 7" wide at the elbow and has three, brass, cuff-size eagle 'shield' buttons stitched to the functional cuffs. Jacket front reflects an eleven-button closure with eleven original brass eagle 'shield' buttons securely sewn to the flap edge with original stitching. Buttons show all plain backmarks.

Interior body of this uniform jacket is lined with its original, off-white cotton cloth material in exceptionally fine and tight condition with just a very few moth nips. No rips, tears or seam separation but the right armpit area has one small area of thinning. Inner sleeves are lined with white cotton or muslin material in very good condition. Each inner sleeve is stamped with markings that we are not familiar with. Left sleeve also has a partial stamping in black ink but is hard to discern. Original lining has been lightly quilted. Jacket has a single slash pocket on the left side of coat interior. Both sleeves show sweat stains from use. This quality uniform (shell) jacket used by the army Signal Corps is similar to the types worn by Federal cavalry and proved to a tough, light and comfortable garment.

Accompanying the jacket is a fine pair of rare mounted or saddled trousers in excellent condition. Made of sky-blue wool satinet, these trousers are excellent overall but with no visible stampings or markings. They feature a 32" waist with a 30" inseam and measure 11" wide across the widest portion of the trouser leg. The unlined pants are cut full and feature a second layer of heavy wool cloth sewn to the inside of the trouser seat / thigh area. Trousers exhibit a 3" wide, off-white linen inner waistband bordered with a 1" high, decorative pattern at the top edge. Waistband supports a buttoned front pocket in addition to a watch pocket slit on the right side of waistband. Other features are a button-down fly that retains its four original tin and one wooden 4-hole garment buttons tightly sewn to the opening. Six wooden buttons are stitched to the waistband. Back side has its original wool belt adjuster band with a black japanned clasp.

Trousers are in excellent condition with no rips, tears or blemishes save for three, small, period hand repairs at the rear seam. Trouser waist and leg areas, in front and in back, exhibit just few small moth nips and holes from insect damage overall. All trouser seam stitching is original and is in strong tight condition. Both inside trouser cuffs have remnants of the 8" high, brown woven cloth lining in addition to the four tin buttons sewn into each cuff. Buttons secured the foot straps, which are missing.

This Civil War Signal Corps fatigue jacket with its mounted trousers is a rare cloth artifact of the Union army and would make a superlative addition to any collection of period military cloth.

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