Civil War Auction
Lot 46:
This is a very fine museum grade Confederate enlisted kepi that is identified from initials “C.M.H.” inked inside on sweatband and again under the sweatband along with his named ninth plate ambrotype with his name (signature), 23rd Miss. and 1863 date underneath image and written back of the case. The name is Cullen M. Harlan of the 23th Mississippi Infantry The visible initials are inked and look black. The initials under the sweatband inked and have turned brown. It is complete and brass chinstrap buttons have 10 point star design. The leather chinstrap is tarred oilcloth and shows minor wear and age. The gray body with some wear down to nap and moth tracks with some moth holes in various areas. The visor has a machine stitched reinforced edge and shows even crazing and is in solid condition but has a crack left side near button but it is not compromising the visor’s rigidity. The interior has hand stitched brown leatherette sweatband, blue and red checkered cotton lining which has faded to more a light purple and brown color. Has hard cardboard crown stiffener with patent leather looking lacquer coating. The sweatband is flexible and we see no maker marks or tags. Sweatband is hand stitched to wool body. The overall condition is very good with very even age to all parts and materials. Included is some 2 pages of government research from 2005. We encourage requests for more pictures. There is some opinion that the name inside the case has characteristics in style of a known 20th Century perpetrator who wrote names in Ambrotype/Tintypes to create groupings. Please bid accordingly and refer to expert advice in the field before bidding.
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