Cavalry shoulder straps combine strong eye appeal from the yellow branch of service color with the romance associated with the mounted forces and are also scarce by comparison with infantry straps given the smaller number of officers commissioned in that branch of service. This is an excellent condition pair of Smith patent shoulder straps, which used gilt hollow stamped brass to imitate bullion embroidery for the borders and rank insignia. These were generally more robust, avoided the problem of the coils of a bullion strap getting snagged on something, and could be polished bright if tarnished. They were also cost effective for the maker or dealer since it was only a matter of different colored center ground combined with the same borders and rank insignia for all branches of the army.

This pair has bright, just slightly age muted, mustard yellow velvet centers with no holes or wear and the nap of the fabric intact and the gilt brass false-embroidered stamped borders and rank bars all in place, showing some bright imitation strands with some age patina and just one or two small darker spots. The straps measure 3-15/16” long and 1-1/2” wide with borders stamped to imitate single bullion gilt borders ¼” wide with alternating dead and bright bullion narrow jaceron wire edges inside and out (part of the stamping.)

The backs are blue and show a little rubbing but only a pencil point moth nip on one corner and a ¼” long narrow spot along the edge of one strap. Borders and rank bars are fastened with the correct, short pins. We see no markings on the reverse so these likely had the earlier paper labels rather than the later red stencil markings.

This set has a good deal of eye appeal and would add to a cavalry display or even a collection devoted to rank insignia.  [sr][ph:L]

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