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1884 CAVALRY ENLISTED MAN’S DRESS UNIFORM COAT –
VERY NICE CONDITION: A true veteran of the
Indian Wars Cavalry, this original Pattern 1884 Enlisted
Man’s Dress Uniform Coat is in very nice condition,
showing only minimal signs of wear and none of the
excessive aging or deterioration so often suffered by
these pieces of frontier uniforming.
This Dress Coat is overall very clean, retaining a rich
dark blue color throughout, and all of the original
buttons are present on the epaulets, cuffs, tail and
down the front. The wool from which the body and
sleeves of the coat is made is very solid with the only
wear being a small tear at the point the shoulder joins
the left sleeve (pictured below in the photographs).
The yellow facings and piping are on the whole intact
throughout on the collar, shoulder tabs, cuffs, tails,
and the front and lower edges of the coat. There is a
spot of wear on the right side of the collar as can be
seen in the photographs, to which has been applied an
old repair. There are some very small soil spots on the
yellow facing on the tail of the coat. There is a minor
bit of wear – ˝” long -to the edge piping on the left
side vent. The remainder of the coat is very nice with
no mothing or damage, no wear at the cuffs or to the
front and lower edges except as noted above, and the
balance of the piping is present and solid.
The coat has the standard quilted white cotton lining in
the body, and the cotton lining to the sleeves. The
wrist and arm pit area of the lining is solid without
wear or tears, an unusual added value as this is where
the wear normally occurs. There is a short (2-3”)
opening in the seam that runs down the center back of
the lining which could be easily repaired if you choose
to do so, or left as is with no compromise to the
integrity of the coat. There is a wear spot to the
lining where the lining meets the inside bottom edge of
the right side of the collar. This wear is only
cosmetic and does not compromise the seams or body of
the coat – just honest wear. The sleeves are lined with
polished white cotton material and it is fully intact in
both sleeves. The skirt of the coat, below the waist,
is lined with black satin which has some very minor
soiling. On the inside of right side skirt there is a
label from the Eaves Costume Company of New York City.
Were it not for costume companies across the United
States, many of the fine uniforms in collections today
would not have survived.
While most of us picture the frontier cavalry trooper
dressed in dusty “dirty shirt blue” on campaign, these
Dress Uniform Coats were an important part of the
soldiers’ wardrobe and they were regularly worn for the
weekly dress parades and other formal functions held at
the posts large and small across the West. One of the
more striking dress uniforms worn by soldiers in the
Indian War army, this Cavalry Enlisted Man’s Dress Coat
is an extremely attractive, relatively scarce, and very
desirable Indian War uniform piece and one that would be
a fine center piece for any Indian Wars collection.
(0502) $2250
NOTE: To say that photographing
dark blue wool is a challenge is an understatement.
Its closer to a nightmare. In
normal lighting, it appears black and none of the finer
features or condition details can be seen clearly. In
order to highlight the features and provide you with an
accurate view of the material, I have to lighten the
contrast of the photograph which in turn causes the even
colored dark blue wool to appear faded or discolored
when such is not the case. This coat is an even dark
blue color as is seen in background wool surrounding the
close up photograph of the button. Trust that you
will not be disappointed in this coat.
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