This is the regulation cap worn by Civil War veterans as members of the Grand Army of the Republic, the largest of the Union veterans’ organizations, founded in 1866, an active advocate for veterans and a powerful political force with a peak membership of more than 400,000 in 1890. The cap is in excellent condition with tight seams, good color to the body and virtually no moth damage. The leather chinstrap is in place, as are the small GAR side buttons. The flat, bound visor is firmly in place, though curving very slightly upward as the leather dried. The only defect is a missing sweatband inside, though the black silk lining is in place and fully intact. The lining is embossed with a logo reading, “CHARLES NAYLOR / 118 N. 5^th ST. / PHILA.” Naylor sold flags, banners, swords and regalia in person and by mail order catalog. He is first picked up as dealing in regalia in 1870, but proudly advertised himself as, “Late of Co. G, 68^th Pa. Vols” and “Post 160, Dept. Pa.” and his firm as founded in 1866.

The cap has a very nice gilt brass-frame, red cloth-backed First Division Sixth Corps pin-back badge on top, with curving ric-rac patterns on the brass and bright colors, indicating the veteran had been a member of that organization during the war. The front is mounted with false embroidered, silvered numerals “21” showing some tarnish, inside a gilt brass wreath, indicating the veteran’s membership in a G.A.R. post with that number. Naylor supplied G.A.R. goods nationwide through his catalog, but if the post was No. 21 of the Pennsylvania Department, it was the Courtland Sanders post of Philadelphia, which met on 39^th Street, above Market Street, and was named after a captain in the 118^th Pennsylvania killed at Shepherdstown Sept. 20, 1864.

This is a very colorful, great looking cap, by a well-known maker and carrying the badge of a very active army corps serving in the Army of the Potomac and for a time in the Shenandoah. [sr] [ph:m]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!