Civil War era bullet proof vest or body armor and neck stock, 2 items total. 1st item: Two-piece bullet proof vest or body armor. By oral history, belonged to a Union Soldier from Columbus, Ohio. Each piece comprised of sheet iron, worked to fit across the wearer's chest, with two shoulder straps, the right shoulder strap with canvas coating. Unsigned. Includes a photocopy of the title page and two pages regarding body armor from THEY FOUGHT FOR THE UNION by Francis A. Lord, Ph.D., published by Bonanza Books, New York, 1989. Armor - 18 1/4" H x 9" W. Note: This example is similar in design to the James S. Smith, New York, patent, nicknamed "Monitor" in reference to the Union iron clad ship. 2nd item: Civil War era neck stock, comprised of a wide piece of black leather with a black metal buckle and a smaller strap of black leather sewn to each end. Buckle stamped "Pat'd 1855." 2 1/4" H x 15 3/4" L. Note: Neck stocks were used to train soldiers to keep their chin and neck straight while wearing high collared uniforms. Provenance: Private Southern collection.

1st item: Overall good condition with areas of oxidation. Traces of black paint, primarily to exterior, still intact. Canvas coating is not present to left shoulder strap. 2nd item: Overall good condition with cracking, areas of loss, largest 7/8" x 2" to leather.