This is a very good pair of infantry shoulder straps for a second lieutenant, the junior officer of an infantry company, serving under a first lieutenant and a captain as company commander, and usually posted in the line of sergeants just behind the two ranks of the line of battle to act as file closers and direct the men immediately to their front. These were worn both on the frock coat and the fatigue blouse, whether in camp or on campaign.

These are the usual configuration, with embroidered gilt bullion borders on a field of light blue to indicate infantry, and the field left blank to indicate a second lieutenant, with one bar added at each end for a first lieutenant and two for a captain, embroidered in gold bullion as well. The bullion borders are edged inside and out with curling, jaceron wire, also gilt. These are in very good condition, with strong gold color remaining on the bullion and on the light blue fields that show just some slight dust and dirt. The bullion strands are still tight, next to one another and not exposing any underlying material. The jaceron wire is very good also, showing just a couple of short gaps where it has moved away from the bullion borders, but has not been stretched or broken and could be tacked back in place. The underlying dark blue fabric is good and was certainly turned under along the edges when put on a coat- some waviness to the edges of the straps indicates they were on the shoulders of a coat at some point. The underside of the straps show the white web material that was the foundation for the embroidery, along with the thread of the borders, etc. We note a small “Wrx” in old brown ink. This is certainly the original military goods dealer’s pricing or inventory code. Officers had to buy their own weapons, gear, and uniforms, including insignia of rank from commercial sources, some large like Horstmann or Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham, and many of more modest size. [sr] [ph:m]

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