This 5-button blouse has three 1883 style US general service eagle buttons, one Pennsylvania National Guard button, and one Civil War general service eagle button down the front, and two 1883 style small general service eagle buttons on each cuff, though a small spot between each pair indicates there may have been three originally. The coat has the standard rollover collar with squared ends and squared lapels at the bottom. The blouse is unlined and has a single interior pocket in the left breast. This could be a private purchase or state blouse, especially in view of the PA button. The US 1883 pattern blouse did away with branch of service color cording on the collar and cuffs, but was mostly produced in a lined version with two pockets and a single button on each cuff. The 1884 added exterior pockets. The 1890 pattern eliminated the exterior pockets, had three buttons on each cuff, as it looks this one had, and its earliest version had just one interior pocket. On the other hand, all the US issue Model 1890s seem to have been lined. So, we are back to the possibility of a state or private purchase coat of that period. The coat carries a set of M1872 pattern cavalry corporal chevrons. These are correctly set into the seams of the sleeves. They are made of cotton drill rather than wool, something introduced in the late 1890s for wear on the thinner cotton khaki tunics. This could back up the dating of the coat, though we can’t tell when they were added.

The condition is very good. The color is strong, somewhat darker on the sleeves than the body, likely from cloth from different dye lots, and the seams are tight. We see some scattered pencil-point moth nips, and two or three pencil eraser size, but nothing egregious or especially noticeable. The interior pocket, made of very dark blue cloth, is in place, but the stitching on the left side of the facing of the opening, 1-inch wide, has given way. This could be resewn, but does not affect the integrity of the coat and is no visible from the outside.  It displays very well.  [sr][ph:L]

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