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50TH NEW YORK ENGINEERS MARTINGALE & TWO CIVIL

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
50TH NEW YORK ENGINEERS MARTINGALE & TWO CIVIL
WAR CAVALRY ERA BRIDLE SETS. The breast strap or martingale exhibits high quality workmanship & unique yellow enameled leather shield w/ the crest of the 50th New York Infantry. The 50th New York mustered in at Elmira, NY in the summer of 1861 & would soon be designated the 50th Regiment of Engineers. The 50th were bridge & fortification builders throughout the war attached to the Army of the Potomac. They built pontoon bridges on all major river crossings including at battle of Fredericksburg, under heavy fire. The regiment served the entire war mustering out in June 1865 w/ death from wounds & disease totaling 231 men. These 2 bridle sets are of the dual rein design often found w/ officer saddles. One set of reins is attached to the upper position of the bit, passing through the rings on the martingale to the rider, to control the horses head from rising up. The other set functions as a normal bridle set w/ embossed eagle rosettes. The extensive use brass for these bits & trim of the headstalls show of high quality private purchase. CONDITION: martingale brass insignia is fair to good overall w/ medium dark mustard patina. The yellow enameled surface of martingale & straps is heavily crazed, cracked & about 10% missing, there are breaks in 2 of the straps at martingale, but are displayed nicely on a custom branched wood display to hold each strap. Both bridle sets are good to very good overall, complete & well preserved. PROVENANCE: Herbert "Bert" Murch Collection. (02-12860/JS). $1,500-2,000.