A fine example of the French inspired heavily braided chasseur pattern kepi favored by many of the flamboyant regiments serving in the Army of the Potomac. We believe this private purchase non-regulation officer’s hat to be of correct Civil War-style and manufacture, being approximately 6” tall in back and 2.625” in front. The interior of the dark silk crown is marked “James” within a shield-shaped crest that includes his “525 Broadway” NYC business address. Known colloquially as “James the Hatter,” this obscure maker (not listed in Bazelon-McGuinn) is documented in several online articles dealing with Civil War subjects from 1861 and 1862. One article reprinted in the Numismatist, Vol. 33 (May 1920) on "U.S. Postage Stamps as Necessity War Money” lists “James, Hatter” from an 1861 NYC Directory. Another online book on the history of NYC haberdashery mentions retailer “James the Hatter” at the “525 Broadway” address citing a clerk who began his apprenticeship there in 1862. Accepting minor differences, a nearly identical chasseur pattern kepi worn by Major John Glenn, 23rd Pennsylvania (Birney’s Zouaves) is illustrated in Langellier’s U.S. Army Headgear 1812-1872, p. 100, and Time-Life’s Arms and Equipment of the Union, p.131. Condition: Good to excellent.
A fine example of the French inspired heavily braided chasseur pattern kepi favored by many of the flamboyant regiments serving in the Army of the Potomac. We believe this private purchase non-regulation officer’s hat to be of correct Civil War-style and manufacture, being approximately 6” tall in back and 2.625” in front. The interior of the dark silk crown is marked “James” within a shield-shaped crest that includes his “525 Broadway” NYC business address. Known colloquially as “James the Hatter,” this obscure maker (not listed in Bazelon-McGuinn) is documented in several online articles dealing with Civil War subjects from 1861 and 1862. One article reprinted in the Numismatist, Vol. 33 (May 1920) on "U.S. Postage Stamps as Necessity War Money” lists “James, Hatter” from an 1861 NYC Directory. Another online book on the history of NYC haberdashery mentions retailer “James the Hatter” at the “525 Broadway” address citing a clerk who began his apprenticeship there in 1862. Accepting minor differences, a nearly identical chasseur pattern kepi worn by Major John Glenn, 23rd Pennsylvania (Birney’s Zouaves) is illustrated in Langellier’s U.S. Army Headgear 1812-1872, p. 100, and Time-Life’s Arms and Equipment of the Union, p.131. Condition: Good to excellent.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
