This .58 caliber cartridge box is in very good condition and complete with all buckles, loops, latch tabs, inner and outer flaps, implement pouch, etc., firmly in place, still has the two interior magazine tins, retains its original oval SNY cartridge box plate on the outer flap, and has a very sharp “Baker / & McKenney / N-Y” stamp on the inner flap. That firm was founded in January 1864 by Laura Baker, widow of military goods dealer John A. Baker, and former employee James McKenney.

The box is the pattern of March 1864 using a rivet in addition to stitching to secure the latch tab. Baker and McKenney secured a U.S. contract for 10,000 cartridge boxes of this pattern in May 1864 and sold others to the state and private purchasers. This carries a New York oval SNY cartridge box plate, introduced about 1863 for the NGSNY and found on some 1864 battle sites according to O’Donnell and Campbell. The plate appears original to the box, showing small marks on the reverse of the outer flap where there were once leather wedges holding it in place, likely removed by a collector to clean the plate, which shows a pleasant medium tone.

The leather has not been treated with any preservatives or polish. The finish is brown in tone, with fine age craquelure and some scuffs on natural points of wear: high points, top of the box, left and right edges of the outer flap and reverse where it would rub against the body. The inner flap shows some spotty stains and rubs, but the maker stamp is sharp, and the side ears are in place. The implement pocket is complete. The magazine tins, designed to hold packs of ten cartridges in a lower compartment and ten rounds ready for use in an upper tray, are both in place and good, with the dividers still in place in the upper trays.

These March of 1864 boxes were made in time for some of the climactic campaigns and battles of the war and although theoretically replaced by the July 1864 pattern with an embossed flap continued to be used. This is a very good example with a scarce plate.  [sr] [PH:L]

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