December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An extremely early example of a British volunteers jacket, made at about the same time that the British Army issued new regulations changing over from long-skirted, lapeled coats to short skirted, single-breasted jackets. In cut, the coat still has the broader back of the late 18th century, but the tailor has adopted this cut to fit the new profile. These earlier British jackets were often extremely high-waisted, so that the waistcoat could still be seen below. The jacket is made of scarlet broadcloth, faced with yellow. It has a 3 1/4 in. H standing cape and 2 1/2 in. W cuffs. The jacket's buttonholes and edging are made using 5/16 in. W, worsted, twill-wove tape. The use of narrow lace of this type and the scarlet color, as opposed to a brick red color and 1/2 inch lace, usually indicated a sergeant's coat vs. enlisted--but with volunteer corps, one can never be certain. The functional pockets are set above the nominal pocket flap as with regular army uniforms and the half-turnbacks are cut from white broadcloth. An anonymous note from the late 19th or early 20th century that accompanies the jacket states that it was the "Coat worn by my Great Grandfather John Ling when he joined the [torn-out]rs for the Defence of England during the time that the Country was threatened by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801-2-3-" CONDITION: The lining is missing from coat and looks as if it might have been removed during the period; the jacket has usage wear, including light soiling and staining; there is some loss to part of the lace and cloth on the left cuff and underside of the right, with a handful of scattered nips elsewhere; a period repair patch can be seen on the upper left breast near armhole.