CIVIL WAR 33rd INFANTRY OFFICER’S HAT INSIGNIA

CIVIL WAR 33rd INFANTRY OFFICER’S HAT INSIGNIA

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$750.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1299-33

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

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

This is a very strong example of the regulation hat insignia for a Civil War officer in a 33rd regiment of infantry. This type uses an internal metal stiffener fitted with two loops for attachment to the hat by passing the loops through slits in the hat and securing it inside by leather wedges, a thong, or in this case a close lace that, remarkably, still remains in place. Also unusual is that the insignia uses two, flat silvered, metallic numerals, “33,” whose prongs were pushed through small holes made in the fabric and internal stiffener, to designate the officer’s regiment. Metal numerals of this type appear in several forms. Often they are thin, silvered metal stamped to imitate silver bullion embroidery (“false embroidered.”) Here there is no pretense about that. They are made of flat, smooth metal and imitate handwritten, script numbers. The military goods dealer from whom the officer purchased this likely stocked bullion embroidered infantry officer’s hunting horns without any embroidered numbered numerals since they would have limited his clientele, but had a variety of numerals in stock he could add to them to suit the officer.

This is in good condition, with the jaceron wire border, cloth backing, numerals and loops in place. The black velvet ground on the face is regulation, the color having switched to black from blue when the dress hat was adopted in the late 1850s. The only faults we see are three small wear spots to the nap of the velvet at lower right and the oxidation of the gilt embroidery toward silver, though with some hints of gold. The embroidered bullion shows no loose threads and uses some thicker, twisted strands, and three short lengths of jaceron wire, to emphasize details on the horn and form the bugle cords. We especially like the presence of the lace and the unusual form of the numerals in the regimental designation. A survey of photos of officers in regiments with that number might narrow the possibilities.   [sr][ph:m/L]

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