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Exceptional Early 20th Century Illinois Colonel's Dress Frockcoat with Accessories Attributed to Col

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Exceptional Early 20th Century Illinois Colonel's Dress Frockcoat with Accessories Attributed to Col
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This is an excellent example an early 20th century James H. Hirsch & Co. Illinois officer's dress frockcoat. The frockcoat has 18 Illinois "State Sovereignty, National Union" buttons on the front, three buttons on each cuff, and four buttons on the back below the waist. The inside of the coat has the James H. Hirsch, Chicago tag below the collar. The frockcoat is furnished with a pair of colonel shoulder knots. Each shoulder knot has the James H. Hirsch & Co. label on the back below the attaching hardware and the colonel insignia is beautifully done in bullion. An overcoat cape featuring a velvet collar is included. The frockcoat is not without headgear as an officer's cap and officer's chapeau are included. The officer's cap has a bullion eagle insignia of the front. The officer's chapeau has Illinois "State Sovereignty, National Union" and federal "E. Pluribus Unum" eagle insignia on one side and a Hirsch label on the inside. A metal storage box accompanies the chapeau. An officer's gold belt with hanger and "E. Pluribus Unum" eagle motif buckle is also included. All items come in a canvas covered wooden partitioned trunk with wood slats and metal corner protectors on the outside (44" long. 15" wide, 13 1/4" tall). The inside of the trunk has a James H. Hirsch & Co., Chicago, IL, paper label and a Niagara Hotel, Buffalo, N.Y., label on top of the lid. "COL. CHAS. L . WALKER / ROCK ISLAND ILL" is featured on a short end of the trunk. Born in Queen Ann, Illinois on December 27 1851, Charles Leander Walker would became a member of a leading law firm in Rock Island County. He graduated from Rock River Seminary and Collegiate Institute in 1869 and after graduation held many jobs such as teaching at a school, working on a farm, and working railroad construction, before moving to Rock Island in May 1873. In 1874 Walker studied law in the office of Sweeney and Jackson and in 1878 was admitted to the Springfield bar and became a member of the firm where he learned law, with the firm changing the name to Sweeney, Jackson, and Walker. On January 28, 1901, Walker was appointed as a staff aide of Governor Richard Yates (22nd Governor of Illinois from 1901 to 1905) and assumed the rank of colonel. Other items included in this lot are the following: two pairs of trousers (blue and gray) hand marked "Weeks" the inside, Rock Island Regalia Co. made Illinois regiment drum major dress coat with master sergeant chevrons on the sleeves, leather boot leggings, gold cord, leather belt with hanger and "E. Pluribus Unum" eagle motif buckle, pair of bullion colonel shoulder boards with Hirsch label, several extra Illinois buttons, and "E. Pluribus Unum" eagle motif belt buckle.
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Condition: The frockcoat and cape are both excellent with no noticeable moth holes, tears or loss stitching. The officer's cap is fine with the exception of the lining being mostly detached and some age cracking on the bill. The chapeau is very good with some lost feathers and worn gold accents. The drum major coat is very good with loose and missing shoulder knot hardware on the right shoulder, some minor wear, and a few moth holes, with some missing stitching in the lining. The trunk is good with missing handles.