A very good pair of Civil War officer’s shoulder straps with the gold oak leaves of a Major set on a black ground indicating a staff appointment. This is not to say a desk job. Staff officers were in the field and often on the front lines under fire carrying out orders and delivering messages from commanding officers at the regimental, brigade, division, and corps level, as well as those assigned to army headquarters and to support duties like the Quartermaster Department, administrative tasks like the Adjutant General, etc. We also see examples of black staff straps worn by members of the Medical Staff, where Surgeons ranked as Majors (and Assistant Surgeons as First Lieutenants) and might not include the regulation M.S. in Old English between their rank bars.

This pair uses two rows of gold bullion embroidery for the borders, putting them a cut above the standard, less expensive single-row versions. The borders show some rubbing to the gilt finish on the high points and oxidation toward a muted silver, but with no loose strands, the jaceron wire in place along the inner and outer edges of the borders, no loose strands and good color to the gold oak leaf rank insignia, and deep black color to the velvet centers, showing some lighter spots of rubbing, but no stains or oxidation. The base fabric shows just a couple of wear spots on the underside at two corners and has been turned under to show the typical open back, showing the maker used a yellow fabric over the web interior, likely to add to the gold color of the surface bullion embroidery if there were any small gaps. Please see our photographs.

Civil War embroidered insignia is a great combination of history and eye-appeal.  [sr][ph:L]

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