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Insignia:
historic military hat plates and badges, shoulder straps,
epaulets, chevrons, specialty patches, corps badges, rank
and branch designations, ratings, more. Primarily
American. Emphasis on Civil War and Indian War period, but there is WWI
and WWII.
Insignia
and other items are being added often...please check through the whole section
NOTE:
We are adding hat parts/insignia to our Headgear section. While
this section has some hat insignia, we chose to put the other parts in
the section more specific to completing a hat or helmet.
3 I - ORIGINAL CIVIL
WAR CAVALRY OFFICER’S HAT INSIGNIA.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
3 ¾” wide, stiffened black
velvet backing with applied, stamped brass crossed sabers with false
embroidered, embossed surface. Held to backing by bent wires.
Has a tarnished “7” above, standing for 7th Cavalry, though I
can offer no evidence it designates THE 7th Cav of a few
years later – though the insignia would be the same. Fine
condition. Intended to be sewn to a slouch hat. A bit dusty.
$395
4 I - C.1902 (SPANISH AMERICAN WAR) - 1918
SALESMAN'S ARMY INSIGNIA SAMPLE CASE.
More Photos, Click Here
Carried by a
manufacturer’s sales representative to prospective customers (military
outfitters and dealers) and used to showcase the quality and diversity
of their products. Never, in nearly 50 years in the militaria business,
have I seen another one or anything like it. Contains its total
original contents which are collar insignia, miniature collar, lapel and
tie insignia, all in premium quality materials and exceptional
workmanship. There are five superb stick pins, each with branch
insignia in brass and German silver. This includes Cavalry, Artillery,
Engineers, Medical, Infantry. These alone are worth a minimum of $400.
Then there are branch and corps pin-back insignia, of the same quality.
These are worth several hundred more. The quality is jewelry grade,
many done up in extra layers. Some were probably intended both as
official insignia and as jewelry. Each is displayed on its original
titled card, affixed to a larger display board. All this is wrapped
with four flaps of off-white flannel inside and black oilcloth
exterior. Closed, the case measures 8 x 13 ½”. For an insignia
collector, this is a rare prize. $475
5 I (A - G) - INDIAN WAR
and CIVIL WAR SHOULDER
STRAPS
These straps came from an old
collection. It’s been a long, long while since we had many to offer.
(Photo colors are as close as we could get them, with slight variation).
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(A) - INDIAN WAR STAFF CAPTAIN’S SHOULDER STRAPS. 1 5/8 x 3
15/16”. Wide gold bullion borders with light tarnish. Edged with spun
brass wire. Silver bullion captain’s bars with minor dulling. Black
wool facings. No snags. Excellent condition. Backs covered with black
fabric, possibly silk. This is professionally hand sewn in place.
$375
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(B) - INDIAN WAR CAPTAIN OF INFANTRY SHOULDER STRAPS. Possibly
Civil War. Some of these are very difficult to date precisely. 1 9/16
x 4”. Gold bullion borders narrow enough for early date. Moderate
tarnish. Edged with quite narrow spun brass wire. Dulled silver
bullion captain’s bars at each end. Sky blue wool facing. Black fabric
backing hand sewn in place. Very good. No snags. $425
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(C) - VERY EARLY ARTILLERY LIEUTENANT’S SHOULDER STRAPS. 1
3/8 x 3 7/8”. Not only early, but a good chance they were on a Zouave
officer’s coat. Very narrow, and not especially tall silver bullion
borders, dulled with tarnish but still silvery. Edged with tiny spun
brass wire, probably gilded, on the inside, and silver spun wire on the
outside. The facing is crimson velvet. The undersides and backing are
red. The extra color on sides and back strongly suggest the straps were
on a more colorful uniform such as Zouaves. Very nice condition showing
light use. Handsome straps of the type and rarity long absent from the
market. $695
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(D) - CIVIL WAR CAPTAIN OF INFANTRY SHOULDER STRAPS. 1 7/16 x
3 15/16”. Could have been worn into early Indian Wars. Nice narrow,
tall gold bullion borders, with the thin gilt worn off, making the
bullion look like lightly tarnished silver. Edged with spun brass wire.
Tall, narrow silver bullion captain’s bars embroidered each end.
Tarnished lightly and matching borders. Facing is sky blue wool. A
little dusty. Back sides faced with lustrous black fabric neatly sewn
in place by hand. No snags or moth holes. $475
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(E) - VERY NICE EARLY INDIAN WAR STAFF CAPTAIN’S SHOULDER STRAPS.
1 9/16 x 4”. Gold bullion borders with spun brass wire edging. Gold
tarnished to bronzy tone on top with more gilt showing along the lower
edges. Silver bullion captain’s bars embroidered on each end.
Tarnished on top. Fine black wool facing. No snags or holes. Backs
faced with navy blue/black (can’t tell) wool hand sewn in place.
$395
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(F) - INDIAN WAR MEDICAL CORPS CAPTAIN’S SHOULDER STRAPS.
Super rare! 1 5/8 x 3 15/16”. Wide borders in gold bullion, dulled by
tarnish giving bronzy tones, with gold tones showing through. Spun brass
wire edging. Silver bullion captain’s bars on each end. Some silvery
grey tarnish. Emerald green wool facing, with some light wear to nap.
Black wool backing hand sewn in place. No snags or holes. Don’t
remember seeing another set. $725
Click on each thumbnail for larger view
(G) - CIVIL WAR CAPTAIN OF INFANTRY SHOULDER STRAPS. 1 3/8 x
3 7/8”. Very narrow bullion borders with fine spun brass wire edging.
Tarnished to a dark silvery grey with gold tones along the lower edges.
Captain’s bars tarnished to dark silvery grey. Couple bars have a few
strands of bullion loose at one end. Could be very carefully
tucked/glued back in place. Facing is dark blue grey fabric, once
probably a bit darker, and totally suggestive of uniform coat
fabric/color. Back sides are leather faced with gold name and logo of
“Horstmann Bros. & Co./Philadelphia”. Boards show use but very good. $450
6 I - GORGEOUS MINT M1832 REGULAR ARMY
INFANTRY OFFICER'S INSIGNIA. Click
on thumbnail photo for larger view Worn in
pairs on coat tails and on hats, caps and shakos of the militia.
Made left and right handed. Used either way on hats.
Stiffened black wool background 2 5/8" wide, embroidered with gold
bullion forming hunting horn and rosette at top, with silver bullion
suspension cords. Gold sequins embellish mouthpiece and bell of
horn and rosette. Absolutely new condition.
Only one left, with horn facing right (not the one
shown here) $75
7 I - ORIGINAL PAIR OF CIVIL WAR
CORPORAL'S CHEVRONS.
More Photos, Click Here
6” wide, 8
¼” high. Dark navy stripes on cadet grey wool backing (bluish
grey). Exactly as used on several state jackets of the early
militia entering the War – New York as one good example. Excellent
condition, though both have a few small moth holes. Upon closer
examination, the two are not exactly the same, though I’m convinced they
were on the same jacket. These came together with other related
material about 35 years ago, and they were in storage all this time. I attribute the
minute differences on these chevrons to the fact that they were the
product of a room full of ladies, turning out all manner of stuff on
their treadle sewing machines – each item essentially hand made. Thus,
each would have minute variations. I am entirely convinced that this is
a pair, used together, and that they are together because they came off
the same coat. I am confident when you see these in person, you will be
convinced they are a pair, and will appreciate seeing the slight
variations that came from a routine wartime contract. $245
8 I -
ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR 3RD
CORPS BADGE.
Click
on each thumbnail photo for larger view
Sheet silver or German
Silver diamond, 1 ½” high, with incised border lines and brass “safety
pin” type clasp on back. Untouched greyish patina. Excellent
condition. $275
9 I - SCARCE AND IMPORTANT ACCESSORIES
TO SCARCE MODEL CIVIL WAR EPAULETS.
More
Photos, Click Here
This
scarce model was worn by the U.S. Marines, as well as many state units,
of which the Civil War Army was mostly made up. This epaulet model had
the feature of being worn either with or without wood cord fringe. The
Marine fringe was red. I’ve seen yellow fringe for state cavalry
units. The brass frame to hold the fringe is the next difficult part to
obtain, if you have the epaulets…missing the fringe. We offer a matched
pair of the brass fringe holders. The epaulets had open undersides to
the crescent ends, into which these fit. Fine condition. Only about
the third set we’ve found in 30 years. $50
10 I - CIVIL WAR SHERIDAN CAVALRY CORPS BADGE.
Click
on thumbnail photos for larger views
A
scarce one, long absent from dealers’ lists. A few things were being let
out by an old fellow who once worked for STOKES KIRK, and I was lucky to
get a few pieces. This is a heavy
sheet brass badge, 2 ¾” wide, with crossed sabers in front of oval
sunburst design. Center has small oval area which has some aged,
thin blue paint, to indicate 3rd Division. Not especially neat, and may have
been applied by the surplus dealer, as was their practice on many types
of original insignia. Back has two brass wire loop fasteners soldered
on. Nice light patina. I believe this is the last one we have, or
will ever have. $325
11 I -
CIVIL WAR OFFICER’S EPAULETS.
More Photos, Click Here
Always a great display
enhancer. These epaulets are large and impressive. Gold bullion tops
and brass crescents. All very nice condition, just evenly darkened
(tarnished) from age. Each has an unusually handsome eagle button,
nearly in ball form. Spun brass wire fringe in great profusion. Maroon
red velvet underside to crescent, and matching leather under arms. A
little finish wear to leather. Nice set. $325
12 I - IMPORTANT CIVIL WAR BRASS HELMET
PLATE.
More Photos, Click Here
Worn on the
leather enlisted shako imported from France for the War and worn by
numerous Federal units. The entire uniform outfit, including this
distinctive leather helmet was extensively written about in the
North-South Trader’s Civil War magazine, and is also seen in the
Time-Life’s “Uniforms and Equipment of the Civil War”, pg. 149. Thought
to have been worn at Gettysburg. Units currently thought to have worn
this are: 62nd & 83rd PA, 18th Mass, 49th
& 72nd NY. Plate is mint condition, and comes on a wood
plaque made up by Bannermans. Wire fasteners on back simply pushed
through the thin wood plaque and bent over. Simply removed if desired.
Paper label on back has some history – most inaccurate, but shows
helmet. Plate is 4” high. Shows infantry horn at center, surrounded by
wreath, surmounted by spread eagle. Super find. $145
13 I - PAIR OF EXCAVATED CIVIL WAR
BRASS EPAULETS.
Click on thumbnail photos for
larger views
Also
called “shoulder scales”. Worn by enlisted men on their shell jackets
and 9-button frock coats. Never a favorite with the men, they often
disposed of them in the field whenever they thought they could get away
with doing so. Therefore, these shoulder scales have frequently been
found in latrines dug out at the campsites. Very attractive collector
items, especially sought after by dug relic collectors. We have two
pair, dug together, totally uncleaned, with heavy patina, somewhat pale
green in color, with a sandy texture. Complete, except for one flat
retainer strap for the underside. A loose one is included. The
underside of the scale area is heavily rusted. The crescent ends,
normally crushed when dug, are not deformed. The crescent end slipped
off the scale and at the attachment point due to the deterioration of
the backing, I reattached the two parts with epoxy and it is virtually
an invisible repair. These were dug near Harrison’s Landing, Virginia
about 40 years ago. This is all the information that was with them after
being in storage 30+ years. Each pair...$195
14 I - MINT, BULLION EMBROIDERED
MILITARY BAND HAT INSIGNIA.
Click on
thumbnail photos for larger views
Embroidered on square of
black velvet, 2 3/16 x 1 7/8”. Has gold bullion lyre below “REED’S”.
Some bullion has dulled, some is bright. Stiffener fabric behind
velvet. Never used. C.1860-80’s. $15
15 I - WWII GERMAN AIR FORCE ENLISTED
VISOR CAP METAL INSIGNIA.
Click
on each thumbnail photo for larger view
Consists of upper flying eagle (swastika at bottom of eagle’s claw
pinched off before I got it), and the large stamped aluminum
wreath/national cockade in front of spread wings. Both insignia have
full original brass prongs on back. Both insignia fine, except the
upper eagle which had the small swastika removed. Priced for the wreath
insignia only. Eagle is thrown in. Guaranteed original. $35
16 I - CHENILLE WWII ARMY ENGINEER
INSIGNIA/PATCH.
More Photos, Click Here A large, colorful engineer's castle
insignia embroidered in red chenille on a white felt backing, still on
its original store card. Insignia is 3 3/4" high x 5 5/8"
wide. The card is grey green with GEMSCO logo in corner, and "SEMBLER/CHENILLE
EMBLEMS/for SPORTSWEAR" at top. On the bottom is "Guaranteed
Fast Color". Insignia is mint. Card excellent with a flex on one
side, possibly a slight tear; hard to tell with the plastic on.
Extremely rare and desirable insignia from WWII used like patches on
jackets, sweaters, etc., probably by both military and civilian. I
remember these from my childhood during WWII, but rarely see them today.
Discovered in a basement of an old store. Representative
sample pictured
$25
18 I - WWII GERMAN NATIONAL SHIELD
INSIGNIA FOR DAK HELMET.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
Worn on right side of
helmet. Stamped sheet metal shield 1 ¾” high, painted
red/silver/black. Rear has three prongs (complete) for attaching
to helmet. Strong paint. Light patina. Shows some use.
Guaranteed original. $30
19 I - UNIDENTIFIED INDIAN WAR
OFFICER'S KEPI INSIGNIA C.1870-90's.
Click on
thumbnail photos for larger views
1 3/4 x 2
3/4" rounded rectangular backing of dark navy blue/black wool.
Embroidered on it is a gold bullion wreath aged a dull brown, framing at
center a red/white checkered flag with the letters “ANG”. Nice old
insignia. Just a bit dulled from age. $35
22 I - M1874 CROSSED RIFLES KEPI INSIGNIA.
Click on thumbnail photos for
larger views
Scarce pin-back model with
solder fill on back and regimental and company designations (1st
Regt – Co. A) added. Regulation configuration. Not the more common,
simple stamped brass crossed rifle insignia. These were hand
assembled. 2 ½” wide. Excellent. $75
23 I - PAIR OF CIVIL WAR OFFICER'S EPAULET "CIRCLETS". Click
on thumbnail photos for larger views
A 1 7/8” diameter, stamped
brass, circular insignia worn on the top of the epaulet, within the
crescent. Done in false embroidery (an embossed surface texture
simulating embroidery). Shows regiment number at center, either 6 or
9. Not an insignia widely used, but over my career, we have owned sets
of officer epaulets with these in place. Circlets done up in actual
bullion and velvet were also used, and we’ve had these too. However,
neither application was in wide use and most collectors could not
properly identify these, having never seen them on an epaulet. Reverse
has three brass wire fasteners. Haven’t had a pair in years. Light
patina. One a bit darker than the other. Shown in Schuyler, Hartley &
Graham’s Catalogue of 1864. $35
26 I - INDIAN WAR INFANTRY PIONEER
BRASSARD (SPECIALTY PATCH).
More Photos, Click Here Worn during the 1880's up through the
Spanish American War.
Large crossed axes cut out of center of 5 x 10" dark navy
blue wool, backed with white wool. Mint originals. Each ... $15
27 I - M1872 ARTILLERY KEPI
INSIGNIA.
More Photos, Click Here Stamped brass crossed cannon.
Prox. 2 1/8" wide.
Never before had any of these to offer. Now, have a couple
which sat in storage until recently, which gave all but the centers a
rather dark brown patina.
Also eroded the two wire fasteners on back to where they were
brittle and broke off.
Still, insignia shows well, is original and quite scarce ... as
there were few in this branch.
Each...$45
28 I - FINE ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR SILVER 3RD
CORPS BADGE.
Click
on each thumbnail photo for larger view Typical,
basic badge, and likely the exact thing the soldiers received from the
many newspaper ads which offered such things.
2 ¼” tall diamond in thin sheet silver.
Stamped along the edge with little half-loop border design.
Has T-bar pin and “C” clasp on back.
Minor tarnish. $295
29 I - WWI BLACKENED BRONZE COLLAR CROSSED RIFLES.
Click
on each thumbnail photo for larger view
Scarce insignia.
Pin back. 2” wide. Excellent. Original. $25
30 I - ORIGINAL SERGEANT CHEVRONS
C.1870-80's.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
White
wool stripes on black or dark navy blue wool. 7 ½” wide, 9” high.
Excellent overall. Couple tiny moth bites. $50
32 I -
RELIC M1872 U.S. ENLISTED CAVALRY CROSSED
SABERS HAT INSIGNIA.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
Have
three specimens which were vandalized when turned in, probably by
unhappy soldiers. In all 3 cases, the end of one saber was broken
off, and some of the attaching wires also broken off. Fronts of two
are excellent (except tip of one saber). The third specimen is a bit
bent up. All three for only $35
33 I -
M1872 U.S. ENLISTED CAVALRY CROSSED SABERS
HAT INSIGNIA. Click
on each thumbnail photo for larger view
These
actually saw field service, and are the last few left from material I
acquired years ago. Stamped brass 2 ¾” wide. Patina
ranges from dark to almost clean. Excellent fronts. Attaching wires
on back are gone (probably broken off when turned in). Have only 4.
Each…$40
34 I -
M1872 U.S. CAVALRY CROSSED SABERS HAT
INSIGNIA.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
As
above. Stamped brass 2 ¾” wide. Actually saw service, then stocked
away when turned in. Have only a few acquired long ago and set
aside. Dark patina. Will have at least one rear attaching wire.
These are exactly as I have excavated at Western cavalry forts of the
Indian War period. Have only 4. Each…$50
35 I - M1872 U.S. ARTILLERY KEPI
INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Found these
few scarce specimens I acquired years ago, and put away. Stamped brass crossed cannon. Prox. 2 1/8"
wide. I don't think we've had more than half a dozen in over 40
years. Have 3. Two are almost like new on the face; the
fastening wires are gone from the rear. The third has a bit of patina
on the lower face but retains one fastening wire on back.
Each...$50
36 I - M1872 U.S. ARTILLERY KEPI INSIGNIA. Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Stamped brass crossed cannon, prox. 2 1/8" wide. Worn on the
front of the cap. Original, and extremely scarce...as this was
an extremely small branch, as opposed to Infantry of Cavalry.
Have two mint, un-issued. Bright brass with 3 out of 4 wire loop
fasteners on back. Each...$70
36 I - ANOTHER. Shown at bottom, in photo above
As fine as
above, but definitely worn in service. Face shows a nice luster
from having been polished. Reverse is dark and has all 4 wire
loop fasteners, bent from service. Only have one. $75
37 I - M1872 U.S. INFANTRY KEPI
INSIGNIA.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
The hunting horn, as worn
during the Civil War, just a bit smaller, and only worn for two
years! Very scarce; replaced in 1874 by the crossed rifle
insignia. Just discovered these last three while cleaning out a
miscellaneous drawer prior to moving. 2 3/16" wide
with stamped brass. One is excellent, with both attachment
wires. Two lack one of the attaching wires. Only
one left, with one attaching wire...$50
38 I - HIGH QUALITY GOLD PLATED INFANTRY OFFICER'S KEPI INSIGNIA
C.1870-80'S.
Click on each thumbnail photo
for larger view
Crossed rifles 1 9/16" wide, with four jeweler's rings soldered to
the rear, for sewing the insignia to the hat. High quality.
One of an infinite variety of kepi insignia used by officers.
Fine condition. No wear to gold. $75
39 I - NEAR MINT M1874 U.S. INFANTRY
KEPI INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Crossed muskets in stamped
brass, 2 1/2" wide. Has only one wire fastener on back.
Otherwise perfect. What a thrill it would be to find one of
these at a Western fort. $50 Have one other about
the same, but with no fasteners...they were actually cut off, not
broken (not pictured). $45
 40 I
- MINT M1874 U.S. INFANTRY KEPI INSIGNIA.
More Photos, Click Here Unbelievably, we uncovered a small original lot of these
insignia still in the original box Stokes Kirk kept them in (early
surplus dealer). These are stamped brass crossed muskets, with wire
loop fasteners soldered on back. 2 1/2” wide. Original Regular Army
issue, precisely as used throughout the Indian War period by Infantry.
Good as new. May have
a bit of tarnish only. Each...$60
41 I
- MINT M1872 U.S. CAVALRY KEPI INSIGNIA.
More Photos, Click Here We discovered a
small, small lot of original insignia, still in the
original box used by Stokes Kirk (early surplus dealer).
These are Regular U.S. Army issue stamped brass crossed
sabers insignia, just as I have dug at Western forts and
exactly as used throughout the Indian War period. 2
1/2” wide, stamped brass wire loops soldered on the
rear. Good as new. Only have a very few. Each...$60
42 I - WWI OFFICER'S COLLAR "U.S."
INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Pair of blackened bronze, pin-back "U.S."s. Matched design.
Finish on one has some flaking. Guaranteed original. $12
43 I - WWI OFFICER'S COLLAR "U.S./N.G."
INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Pair of blackened bronze, pin-back "U.S."s with boxed "N.G." at center
of the US's. Matched design and closely matched finish.
Scarce. Guaranteed original. $15
44 I -
WWI OFFICER'S COLLAR “U.S.”
INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
Pair of blackened
bronze, pin-back U.S.’s. Matched design. Finish on one has more
finish than the other. Guaranteed original. $12
  46
I -
TWO DIFFERENT WWI OFFICER'S COLLAR “U.S.” INSIGNIA.
Click on each
thumbnail photo for larger view
One a “U.S./N.A.”, and the other a “U.S./R”. The N.A. and “R” are
smaller boxed letters in front of the U.S.’s. These are blackened
bronze, pin-back. The “NA” has prox. 35% finish wear. The “R” has
slight wear. Guaranteed original. $12
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