A pair of a Civil War infantry Colonel's "Smith Patent" style shoulder straps that feature cobalt wool broadcloth with stamped brass false-embroidered borders and a stamped silvered brass false embroidered eagle. The backings are black or dark blue wool with visible attachment pins- some wear exposes the paperboard used for stiffening.

Smith’s innovation was to use hollow brass frames stamped to imitate embroidered bullion for the borders of the straps, which used short pins on the reverse to secure the backing and center panels holding the rank insignia, likewise stamped in metal to imitate embroidered bullion and secured with pins. These were less expensive to produce, faster to make, and more durable than actual bullion embroidery. They also made it easier to suit the rank insignia and branch of service color of the background to the buyer. During the Civil War, Smith's patent was well-appreciated due to its practicality.

A rare example in fine condition.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Insignia, Militaria, Uniforms, Shoulder Straps, Ephemera]