This Union artilleryman’s shell jacket is an original Civil War article of uniform clothing that exhibits post-war costume company ink stampings.  In excellent overall condition, the jacket is constructed of heavy wool material dyed a deep indigo blue that is still bright and vibrant. Jacket front exhibits the typical 12-button closure with twelve original brass ‘Eagle Shield’ cuff-size buttons securely sewn to the flap edge with stitching intact.  Stitching is not original as expected. Eight jacket buttons are backmarked ‘Scovills or Extra Quality’ with no marks on the remaining four buttons. The 2” high standup collar is edged in artillery-red, worsted herringbone piping and features four rows of 3/8” wide piping at the front collar. Shell jacket has its black-japanned, single-hook but is missing the small metal loop.  One small ‘Eagle Shield’ brass button adorns the edge of the red braiding on each side of the collar. Collar is missing the second small button on each side. Same red piping decorates the buttonhole side of the front flap and runs along the entire bottom edge of the jacket. Buttonholes are strong and tight with no tearing.   Additional piping decoration, in a chevron design is stitched along each of the functional cuffs.  Both cuffs have two small ‘Eagle Shield’ buttons.

On the backside of the shell jacket, piping rises from the two, belt-rest pads sewn to the waist to each shoulder. Both pads have strong stitching and no tearing.  Jacket’s light brown / beige interior wool lining is in very good condition with virtually no holes, no thinning or seam separation. Main lining seams do appear to have been re-stitched by hand at one time, likely by the Costume Company. Jacket lining sleeves of beige muslin material are in very good condition and each inner armpit shows areas of seam stitching reinforcement. Also stamped on the upper area of the sleeve in reddish ink are the markings of the Philadelphia Costume Company “Miller Costume”. Also stamped in black ink are ½” high letters above the number 1 (jacket size). Jacket exterior is in excellent condition with seven tiny moth nips or insect holes visible. Seams are strong and have been re-stitched in weak areas. Red piping is still bright and tight with light restitching in spots.

Less expensive than the army frock coats, these artillery shell jackets were a comfortable and durable uniform garment worn by Union mounted soldiers during the war.  This Civil War uniform jacket is an original artillery specimen picked up by a costume company after the war. A Civil War artillery shell jacket in fine overall condition.