This is a Union nine button enlisted man's frock coat from the Civil War. The coat is in very good condition, but could use a professional cleaning. The dark blue wool on the outside of the coat has a heavy layering of dust that gives it a greenish brown tint. The true color of the material can be seen on the inside panels, where it remains a dark blue color. The construction of this frock suggests a private purchase rather than a government issue. The sleeves are tailored, being 8" wide at the elbows and tapering at the cuff. The shirts measure 19 1/2" in length and are not hemmed. The collar is 1" and shows honest wear. On the back of the frock are four more Excelsior buttons, two at each vent. There are three interior pockets, one on the inner left breast and one at each vent. The pockets are lined with brown polished cotton. The interior of the coat shows more of the quality craftsmanship that went into it. The body of the coat is lined with a quilted green polished cotton. The sleeves are lined with plain white linen. The right sleeve lining has become unstitched in two areas, each approximately 2" in length. All the panel seams are tightly stitched together, with just a couple areas that show some hand stitched repairs. The single breast coat has 9 New York Excelsior buttons, 6 of them back marked Waterbury Button Co, and the remaining 3 back marked Extra Quality. Each nonfunctioning cuff has three Excelsior buttons, 5 of which are back marked Extra Quality and 1 back marked Scovill. The majority of the buttons appear to have been resewn at different times. There is no makers label, or any other markings for that matter. This frock coat looks as though it just came of the trail, or off the battlefield! This one displays fine just the way it is, but with a little TLC somebody could have a centerpiece for their collection.

Item # AA1245

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