Virginia Militia Shoulder Belt Plate - Marked "JAMES S. SMITH & SONS / NEW YORK"

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Item: Confederate Virginia Militia Shoulder Belt Plate - Marked "JAMES S. SMITH & SONS / NEW YORK"
Construction: Rolled brass. 
Condition: Very good, excavated, attachment pin present. The smooth brass surface has a brown patina. The body of the plate is in good form with no cracks, breaks, or bends. Lightly stamped in the center of the rear is the name of the firm "JAMES S. SMITH & SONS / NEW YORK", a military supplier of the period. The original attachment pin and loop are present and, at some point, reinforced with a thin application of clear adhesive where affixed. There are no bends, cracks, or repairs. 
Recovered: Grafton, VA area. Grafton is situated approximately 6.5 miles south of Yorktown.
Approximate size: 61 x 82 mm.
Reference: Similar examples are found in in the following reference books:

  • "Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields and Campsites of The Civil War 1861 - 1865" by Stanley S. Phillips, page 34, items 5&6.
  • "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates, "Expanded Edition" by Steve E. Mullinax on page 241 as plate 444 (also found in first edition of same book on page 217, plate 401)
  • "The Hammond Civil War Collection" by Mike O'Donnell & Howard Crouch on page 273. 
  • "Civil War Artifacts" by Howard R. Crouch on page 220, item 5.

 See above pages in additional images.

Comments: I have handled only a few of these sheet brass oval plates and this is only the second Smith marked example I come across. According to "The Hammond Civil War Collection" by Mike O'Donnell & Howard Crouch, on page 273, "the state (Virginia) acquired around 10,000 of these oval ornaments from the Richmond shop of Mitchell & Tyler and well-known New York military supplier, James S. Smith." This oval Virginia militia shoulder belt plate will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War plate or general relic collection.

Product Code:
PC179
Price:
$550.00
This brand is available for:
BUCKLES , NEW ITEMS , ALL PLATES , CONFEDERATE RELICS

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