3211

RARE CIVIL WAR BODY ARMOR.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
RARE CIVIL WAR BODY ARMOR.
Bulletproof vests were popular at the beginning of the Civil War. There are newspaper accounts throughout the war especially 1861 and 1862, both pro and con. These were sold in good quantity most likely as advertisements offer discounts for 500 or more. At Helena AR, there were a good many of these excavated in the trenches with bullet holes and even one pierced by a cannon projectile (now at Atlanta History Center). This armor is made in right and left breast pieces to fit under clothing, each has a carved steel shoulder strap to keep it in place. Each plate has 1.75" Pasted label "SMITH'S (pat) BULLET PROOF VEST made by G&D COOK & CO. New Haven, CONN. Size 3". These armor plates were made in 4 sizes as noted in one advertisement, size 3 was made to fit 40" breast, 38" waist. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: small copy file of newspaper and contemporary ads. CONDITION: very good overall, retains much of their jappaned black, spring steel shoulder straps retain oil cloth tops with frayed edges. Both retain partial original paper labels. The right plate has an indentation apparently caused by bullet strike. PROVENANCE: Lifelong Collection of Michael & Irene Hilber. (02-19976/JS). $6,000-8,000.