These well-made leather riding boots are typical of the footwear worn by the mounted soldiers in both the Union and Confederate armies during the American Civil War.  The boots, which appear to be a size 9 are of black bridle leather and were custom made.  Each boot measures 11” high in the front, 15” high in back including the heel and is constructed with four pieces of black leather.  No maker’s stamp or markings are visible on either boot. The main boot body, from the knee to the ankle, is a two-piece leather panel that is stretched and stitched together with a center seam at the side. The foot portion and heel portion make up the 3^rd and 4^th pieces of the boot. All pieces are in excellent condition considering the hard use these specimens were given.

Leather is very strong and does show areas of normal creasing and folding from use. No flaking, cracking or crazing of the leather is visible. Scattered spots of scuffing only. Thick leather soles and heel sections are affixed to the boot body with small wood pegs. Soles and heels are strong and in excellent condition with just light use.  Tooling is visible on the back side of these boots. Each specimen is unlined save for a 4½” high, light-brown leather liner that runs the brim or top portion of each boot. This leather, with a mellow patina, is strong with no fraying or cracking but does show normal creasing from wear and use. A square toe is featured on each boot along with intact, heavy woven linen boot pulls on the upper portion of the boot.

This fine representative pair of Civil War period leather riding boots would display nicely in any Civil War leather collection.