A very nice set of Civil War infantry first lieutenant shoulder straps with triple borders, putting them in the category of the “extra rich” straps sold by Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham and other Civil War military goods dealers who supplied officers with arms, equipment, and uniforms since they were obliged to purchase those items for themselves from private, commercial sources, versus material that was issued by the army to enlistedmen. These follow the generally prescribed pattern of using gold bullion embroidered borders and rank insignia on a background colored to indicate the branch of service, in this case light blue for infantry.

The borders on these, however, are a step or two up in quality, consisting of three rows bullion and the single rank bars at the ends of the straps, indicating a first lieutenant are made of two rows each. (The distinction between a first and second lieutenant by the use of gold or silver bars is more recent. During the Civil War the shoulder straps of second lieutenants were left plain, showing the branch of service color, but no badge of rank.) The bullion shows some wear or tarnish along the high points, the tops of the bullion ridges, with strong traces of the gilt evident in the recesses and lower rank bars. Both the borders and rank bars are edged with coiled, jaceron wire more silver in tone, highlighting the gold bullion embroidery.

The fields have good color, with one strap showing three small moth holes and losses to the nap, likely indicating one strap was stored on top of the other, or upper most on a folded uniform, though the straps seem never to have been mounted on a coat. Both show a black paper backing showing some rubs, and one showing losses to the edges of the paper, but neither really showing signs of attachment to a coat.

These have a lot of eye-appeal and would add to an insignia display, infantry display, or nicely accompany an officer’s sword, sash, and other effects.  [sr] [ph:m]

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