LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

72131

A Very Rare Confederate Colonel's Frock Coat - C

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:22,500.00 USD Estimated At:90,000.00 - 120,000.00 USD
A Very Rare Confederate Colonel's Frock Coat - C
<B>A Very Rare Confederate Colonel's Frock Coat - Colonel John Thompson Brown, 1st Virginia Artillery, killed at the Battle of the Wilderness</B></I><BR> Confederate Colonel's uniforms are more rare than those of Confederate generals. This frock coat was worn by Colonel John Thompson Brown of the 1st Virginia Artillery, the 'Richmond Howitzers'.<BR>This beautiful frock coat has been superbly preserved since Colonel Brown's death on May 5, 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness. A Union non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Watson from Michigan, removed the coat from Brown's body and took it back home where it had been held in his family until just ten years ago. It was then that a descendant returned the coat to Virginia.<BR> This Confederate frock coat, one of the most rare in existence not only because of the rank signified but also due to its historical significance, is being offered here for the first time at auction.<BR>This Confederate Colonel's artillery frock coat is in cadet gray with a standing collar which has three gilt stars hand-sewn into the red cloth backing and attached to the collar. It has magnificent, unusually large triple-gold braids of quatrefoil that run up each of the sleeves which also indicate Brown's rank as a Colonel. The sleeves are in the Confederate officer's pattern. The double-breasted uniform has eagle staff buttons as well. There are three smaller cuff buttons on each sleeve as well as eagle staff buttons on the coattail. It is trimmed with distinctive artillery red piping on the double-breasted part of the coat, piping that extends to the top of the collar and at the coattails, even at the cuffs.<BR>John Thompson Brown was named captain of the 1st Virginia Artillery, the 'Richmond Howitzers' on July 12, 1861. His Colonel's uniform is an extreme rarity. It is in overall superb condition and is a highly attractive Confederate uniform.<BR><BR><B>Provenance: The Watson Family</B></I><BR><BR><B>The Tharpe Collection of American Military History</B></I><BR><BR><B>Exhibited: The Liberty Heritage Society Museum</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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