Civil War Gaylord, Inspected Cap Box with Original Cast CSA Button Affixed to Front

SOLD

Civil War Gaylord, Inspected Cap Box with Original Cast CSA Button Affixed to Front – This cap box, which is in excellent condition, retaining both belt loops and cover latch tab, came from the collection of highly respected Civil War materiel book author, William McGuinn. Although the box is a nice, yet relatively common example of a war period cap box, it is quite unique in that it has an extremely rare, solid cast, non-dug, CSA button, affixed to the box cover; the integrally cast shaft of the button was inserted through a cut in the cover, then held in place by a period, cut nail. The button was in place when we got the cap box, and the significant degree of verdigris on the back of the button, on the side facing the cover, as well as evident in the slit in the cover to accommodate the button shaft, is indicative of being in place for many, many years. We assume that the button may have been inserted during the war years. The box, stamped by Gaylord on the back of the box, between the belt loops, and stamped with the Federal inspector’s markings, on the front of the box cover, may have been utilized, during the war, by a Confederate soldier, or perhaps, a Union soldier, placed the button on his cap box, as a souvenir.