PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD, 1^st REGIMENT, STAFF OFFICERS DRESS TAIL COAT

Original Pennsylvania Officer Dress Coat with Tails and shoulder boards. This is a deep blue broad cloth wool double-breasted tail coat featuring two rows of seven Pennsylvania National Guard buttons on the front. The high collar bears attractive piping. Each cuff has three Pennsylvania National Guard cuff buttons which are sewn upon a scalloped base. The back splits into two tails. The tails themselves are decorated with gilt bullion shell and flame. Interior is lined in black colored cotton. The outside remains very attractive especially with all the brass buttons and red and white highlights. The original Horstman tailor label is intact and was sewn into the neck of the jacket and difficult to read. There is an inside pocket on the right side. The interior of the right sleeve is marked “64.” which may have been the soldiers number. The coat has a high collar and epaulettes with white tassels and black and white trim and bands of red. The epaulettes on the shoulders indicate the rank of the officer wearing the coat.

Buttons:

The buttons are Alberts PA 28 A, page 228. The script initials NG on a dotted figure 1 within a laurel wreath, PENNA below. These are all Horstman buttons, excluding the lower right breast button which is an Oregon button. Probably put there as a filler by the original owner. Four tail buttons are missing.

Condition: Very good! No evidence of moth nips. The shoulders under the epaulettes do show some wear. The red bands under the epaulettes do show wear. Other than these issues, the coat displays well and the missing buttons can be easily replaced.

The 1st Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard has a long and distinguished history, dating back to 1873. The regiment saw action in the Spanish-American War and World War I, and it continues to serve as a vital part of the Pennsylvania National Guard today.