CIVIL WAR COMMERCIAL FORAGE CAP WITH MAINE BUTTONS AND ASSOCIATED INSIGNIA

$4,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1052-139

Commercial caps were simply those purchased privately rather the issued by the government. They might more or less closely follow contract patterns with the purchaser able to suit his taste and wallet, though an enlisted man, seeking something nicer than an issue cap might hew closer to the standard than an officer. In any case, this is a nice example of a commercial cap similar to an issue forage cap with its body having no band around the base and a top with reeded edge not set into the sides in the style of a kepi.

This varies from the issue patterns in several ways. The flat visor has a bound edge and is black on the top, but green on the underside with a view toward resting the eyes. The sweatband is a higher quality the usual impressed goat skin of contract caps and interior is lined with an elegant black silk rather than simple polished cotton and, additionally, is quilted on the underside of the crown.

The cap is in very good condition. The color is strong. The seams are good. The cap shows just light wear. The interior lining shows runs to the fabric and small holes, with a larger one to the front showing some of the interior fabric, but is in place and the sweatband is complete and secure. There are some moth nips along the overlap of the visor on the underside, but the visor is securely in place. There exterior shows some scattered pencil-point moth nips that are not very obvious and only one slightly larger on the left and few other small ones that are more noticeable because the lining material shows through. (These could be backed and made practically invisible, but are not obtrusive and there are no large holes or significant areas of  damage.

The chinstrap is correct and shows a few slight chips, but is likely a replacement. It is secured with Maine side buttons that might or might not then be original to the cap, but show very well with it. The US staff wreath on the front was certainly added by a collector for display and to our eye is not old, but we have left it in place as it came to us and opinions might vary on its age. As it is,  however, the cap itself is original and wartime, and set up for display to represent a Maine officer serving in a staff capacity in a regiment, such as Adjutant or Quartemaster, or on a general’s staff as Adjutant, Aide-de-Camp, or one of the other posts necessary to a high command.

This is a nice piece of Civil War headgear that shows one of the variations often encountered and shows off very nicely.  [sr] [ph:m]

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