This Union veteran’s hat was clearly meant to evoke the wartime slouch hat. This one is in very good condition and carries a gilt brass wreath surrounding the number 4 on its front, indicating the wearer’s membership in a G.A.R. Post #4, though without an indication of the state. It also carries a rather high end, completely gold hat cord with netted acorn ends, evoking not just the wartime black and gold officer’s cord seen on most G.A.R. hats, but the wartime general officer’s cord. Whether this reflects a high wartime rank for the wearer, a prominent G.A.R. post, or personal taste is unclear, but it displays very nicely.

The hat is the standard configuration with an unbound brim of medium width and a narrow black ribbon around the exterior base of the crown with a knot on the left. The sweatband is in place and shows just some sweat stains and a few wear spots along the bottom edge. The exterior has good color showing only slight fading and some dust from storage. There are a couple of short tears to the edge of the brim and a short, narrow strip missing from the edge on the wearer’s right. None of this is particularly noticeable. At top front, above the wreath and number, is a small hole and stain, likely indicating a missing badge, perhaps the corps badge of the wearer’s old unit.

Collectors will be familiar with the history of the Grand Army of the Republic, the largest organization of Union veterans, established in 1866 and dissolved only in 1956 with the death of its last member. It reached a peak membership of over 400,000 in 1890 and was a powerful political force and voice in veterans’ affairs, particularly in the matter of pensions, the establishment of Memorial Day, etc. This would make a nice addition to a collection a G.A.R. material, which is interesting for both its military and social history.  [sr]  [ph:L]

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