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CIVIL WAR INFANTRY CAPTAIN’S FROCK COAT – w/ AMBROTYPE OF OFFICER’S CHILD FOUND IN BREAST POCKET – VERY NICE SPECIMEN:  The classic uniform coat for all company grade officers, this frock coat was the style worn during the Civil War as described in the Regulations for the Uniform and Dress of the Army of the United States, of 1857 “All officers shall wear a frock-coat of dark blue cloth, the skirt to extend two-thirds to three-fourths of the distance from the top of the hip to the bend of the knee; single-breasted for Captains and Lieutenants, - double-breasted for all other grades.”   

As it presents, the entire coat exhibits an high level of expertise in tailoring, and the special features and appointments suggest that this coat was definitely one of the higher grades of uniforms available at the time.  The inside of the collar is lined with black velvet and the split coat tails have very nice detail.  The sleeves are made of two pieces rather than the standard single-seam tube normally encountered.  The outside of the sleeve is made of the same dark blue wool as the rest of the coat, while the interior panel of the sleeve – that surface that would be closest to the body – is made of a polished or worstered wool, a little lighter in weight for comfort and the polished surface would not drag against the body of the coat.  While this inner panel is not visible when the coat is worn, it would be much more comfortable for the wearer, and certainly added to the expense of the coat.  The body of the coat is fully lined with black polished cotton cloth which is heavily quilted in the front and back of the torso area, and the sleeves are fully lined with pin striped cotton cloth.  The lining in both the body and the sleeves is fully intact with no tears.  There is an interior breast pocket on left side of the coat and a deep slash pocket in the left rear tail piece, accessed by a finished vent in edge seam.  The coat measures 38” long from the top of the standing collar to the bottom hem.   

The bullion shoulder insignia straps are in very good condition with all of the bullion trim intact and the light blue background of the insignia field retaining a nice bright light blue color.  All of the standard US Army brass buttons bearing the “I” for infantry in the center of the shield are present on the front, on each cuff, and on the tail.  All of the buttons are full form with no depressions and those on the front and on the tail are  attached with split rings,  

When this coat was purchased in 1985 by the most recent owner, upon examining the coat he found a quarter plate cased ambrotype of a small boy in the interior breast pocket.  It is assumed the image was left in the pocket by the captain who owned this coat, and is probably an image of his son.  The ambrotype measures 3” x 2 ½” and is held in half case, the cover of the case is missing.  Personal affects such as this image are rarely found in uniforms, having passed through and been examined by many hands during the intervening years from the heirs of the original soldiers to collectors along the way, and finding such a treasure as this ambrotype is a significant added value to this coat.     

This frock coat is in very good condition with all of the seams intact and the blue wool material is very solid with no damage except the minor points noted as follows.  There is a 1” long opening in the arm pit seam left arm, which is not visible when the coat is displayed.  There is a ¼” moth hole on front adjacent to the second button from the throat, three very small moth holes on front, and a 1/8” moth hole at the top of the back right below the collar. 

This is a very attractive Civil War officer’s frock coat, and with the added value of the rank insignia present, the fine detail of the tailoring and the ambrotype of the officer’s son, this coat will be a very nice addition to your collection.  $4,250

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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