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FINE CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY OFFICERS VEST WORN BY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
FINE CONFEDERATE ARTILLERY OFFICERS VEST WORN BY
CAPTAIN CUTHBERT H. SLOCOMB OF THE WASHINGTON ARTILLERY. A seldom seen Confederate Artillery officer's vest as worn by the Washington Artillery of New Orleans, Louisiana. The single breasted vest is of gray wool with a brownish tinge and is made of woolen jean or satinet twill with a cotton warp and a wool weft. There are 8 Confederate, State of Louisiana, pelican buttons down the front of the vest. Buttons measure 14.5mm and have no backmark. The 8 button holes are of conventional stitched style. The 2 piece standing collar is 3/4" wide in the front and 1" wide at the rear. The top edge of the collar, as well as both front edges of the vest and the base of the front panels are all piped in scarlet wool, of a tabby weave, over cord. There are 3 outside pockets on the front of the vest. There are 2 horizontally set at the waist on either side and 1 watch pocket horizontally set at the left breast. The pocket flaps at the waist measure 3/4" x 5" and the watch pocket flap measures 3/4" x 4". All of the pocket flaps are piped in the same scarlet red. The pocket bags are made of unbleached cotton osnaburg. The back of the vest is also made of unbleached cotton osnaburg in a tabby weave. A half belt of the same osnaburg adjusts the fit of the vest in the back. Attached to the belt is a 2 pronged, tinned iron buckle marked, "PATENT 1855". The cotton osnaburg again appears as the lining of most of the vest. The inside front edge lining of the vest tapers from 2 1/2" to 2 1/4" and is made of the same wool jean material as front of the vest. A rarely seen Confederate officer's vest worn by Captain Slocomb possibly with the previously mentioned sack coat. Details of construction and tailoring indicate the 2 pieces were likely made by the same tailor and despite their color differences, may have been intended to be worn together. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Les Jensen authentication letter. CONDITION: as a whole, this vest shows wear throughout the wool body of the vest. There is no discernible fading or discoloration of the gray wool body. There are scattered areas of moth damage throughout the front of the vest and the wool portion of the lining. The scarlet wool piping is still quite vivid but does show some abrading and losses due to insect damage. All buttons are present and have most of their gilded finish intact. All seams are intact and remain quite snug. The cotton lining shows general light staining likely from sweat. A rarely seen Confederate uniform accoutrement that Captain Slocomb likely wore with his shell jacket. PROVENANCE: Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Chicago, IL, to legendary collector George Markham in 1957 to the esteemed collection of Don and Judy Polifka in 1987. (02-13426/BF). $12,000-18,000.