#425 Pair of RARE/SCARCE 1851 Officer Sword Belt Plates, with Eagle Facing Right ! - Nondug

#425  Pair of RARE/SCARCE 1851 Officer Sword Belt Plates, with Eagle Facing Right ! - Nondug

These early Regulation Officer Plates are unique in that the eagle heads are turned to the right rather than the later and widely available plate with the eagle head facing to the left. Also these plates were crafted with multiple pieces being fitted by hand and assembled. 

First Plate, can be considered rare. See American Military Belt Plate by O’Donnell & Campbell, Plate 604 Regulation 1851 Pattern, Officer. Ca. 1852-1855. Note the die-struck silvered metal eagle motif and rectangular background set in a brass frame. Silver wreath, a separate piece is attached with wires that pass through to the back of the plate. Plate and its original keeper have been together since the beginning, both stamped with benchmark “14”. Applied tongue. This plate also came with the pictured black ribbon bow. About 10 years ago the Gettysburg National Museum displayed General Reynold’s uniform with an exact same example of this plate. Just a killer plate.

Second Plate, is certainly scarce. Finely hand crafted plate with bright gilt, pre-1856. Again, multiple pieces, and hand fitted and assembled. The fine detail die-struck brass eagle and rectangular background is bordered by a separate frame and belt loop piece. Wreath is 4-piece applied silver. Applied tongue.

It takes years or even decades to stumble across these earliest and hand fitted/assembled Regulation 1851 Officer Plates. 

Top First Plate $1,750 shipped

Bottom Second Plate $1,500 shipped

Pair $2,875 shipped

#421 Buckley General Service Button

#421 Buckley General Service Button

General service button with S. BUCKLEY & CO. BIRMINGHAM backmark; large 23mm. CS81 and Tice’s CS203A1. Smooth patina with push to face center and shank bent; in solid condition.

$375 shipped