Sutler’s or Salesman’s Samples of Civil War Officer’s Insignia

Sutler’s or Salesman’s Samples of Civil War Officer’s Insignia – This extremely unique sampler of high quality, Union Officer’s insignia is the first of its kind that we have encountered. The array of insignia are mounted in a folding, book-like set of covers, constructed of brown, fabric covered pasteboard. The boards of the sampler are hinged together, so they can fold, by a light, gauze-like, brown cotton. The interior of the display area of each of the two boards are lined with a purple velvet material. Piercing through each of the velvet panels are a variety of high quality, officer’s insignia. On one panel side are brass, gilded, faux bullion, hat insignia for officers in the Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry; additionally, on this same panel, is a gilded brass, Hardee hat badge and gilded brass wreath with silver, old English letters “QD” for Quartermaster Department and a gilded, brass Major’s oak leaf. On the opposite velvet panel are large, silver, manuscript hat letters A through K; beneath this row is a row of smaller, silver, manuscript hat letters S, M, N, D, P, A, G. There are two silver, eagle colonel’s insignia; a large silver, 1^st Lieutenant bar and a small, gilded brass, 1^st Lieutenant bar. Also on this panel are somewhat ornate, silver hat letters 1 through 8 and an 0. Finally, on this panel are five silver, five-pointed stars, ranging from a large star to  diminishing sizes of remaining four stars. All of the listed insignia are affixed to their respective boards, via their soldered wires, piercing through the velvet and panel pasteboards. The velvet panels remain in good condition, as do all of the insignia that is affixed. The fabric on the exterior sides of the panels has frayed and is somewhat fragile; there is some scuffing to the edges of the pasteboards. This is a most unique, Civil War period salesman’s or sutler’s offering of insignia and is the only example we have seen.

Measurements: Length (fully unfolded) – 18.75”; Width – 9.25”