MINT CONDITION 3rd ARTILLERY OFFICER’S HAT BADGE

MINT CONDITION 3rd ARTILLERY OFFICER’S HAT BADGE

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3

$750.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 490-7391

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

This artillery officer’s hat badge is in mint condition. It measures 3-1/4” by 2-1/8” with very strong color to the black velvet, the gilt finish on the gold bullion embroidered crossed cannon barrels, and the silvering to the small, applied metal numeral “3” in the upper angle of the cannon barrels. The gold color jaceron wire border is intact and firmly in place. The velvet is stretched over a thin metal stiffener and on the reverse sewn around the edge to a brown cloth backing, which, like the velvet, is completely intact with no holes, tears, or runs. The bent down brass wires of the numeral “3” show at the top on the reverse. Two horizontal brass wire loops are present, in line along the middle of the back, for pegging the insignia to the hat by passing them through small slits in the front of the hat and using small wood pegs, bits of leather, cloth or a short thong to hold it in place.

For this pattern of hat badge see Campbell and O’Donnell, American Military Headgear Insignia, Figure 281, p.129, where it is described as “Hat Insignia, 1858 Pattern Variant, Artillery, Officer, Ca. 1858-1865. The key features are that the insignia is embroidered on black velvet on a separate badge for mounting on a hat and its rather large size, intended for wear on the 1858 Army Hat, i.e. the “Jeff Davis” or “Hardee” hat, but with the crossed cannon barrels retaining the 1851 pattern look with longer muzzle ends than breech ends and placement of the number of the regiment in silver above the intersection of the barrels. From 1851 to 1858 the insignia would have been embroidered on the cloth band around the base of the M1851 shako. The 1861 regulations were essentially the same as the 1858, specifying “gold embroidered cross-cannon, on black velvet ground,” but “with the number of the regiment in silver at the intersection of the cross-cannon,” which led to what is called by some the “cutout” style where the numeral appears in oval or circle (sometimes on a red ground) at the intersection of the cannon barrels, not above it. That form is illustrated, for instance, in the 1864 Schuyler, Hartley and Graham catalog, but it is clear that military goods makers and dealers were supplying officers with this form as well throughout the war. We also note that in the case of officers serving in volunteer artillery units from the various states during the war, the numeral might indicate a battery number rather than regimental designation, since many states supplied independent batteries of artillery or, like New York, supplied independent batteries as well as regiments of artillery.

This is a real “stand-out” example of Civil War headgear insignia that would enhance an artillery or embroidered bullion insignia collection. In addition to Campell and O’Donnell, see Jim Frasca’s excellent articles on headgear insignia in North South Trader, with his article on artillery insignia in the Sep-Oct 1979 issue.  [sr] [PH:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire »

Inquire About MINT CONDITION 3rd ARTILLERY OFFICER’S HAT BADGE

should be empty

featured item

SINGLE SHOT PERCUSSION PISTOL BY HOLLIS OF LONDON PRESENTED TO BEVERLY KENNON, CSN

Offered here is a single shot .54 caliber percussion pistol is a product of gunmaker Richard Hollis of London, England, and identified to a navy officer who served in the U.S. and C.S. navies. The pistol measures approximately 10” long. The… (1268-689). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

21
Jul

Learn More »

Instagram