Original “Washington Greys”; Spanish American War; Dress Uniform Identified

Description

This is a dress uniform including fancy topcoat. With tails, pants with red stripe, and canvas belt with a brass buckle on it that has fancy silver script on buckle face that says: “WG” (Washington Greys). The soldier is identified in three places to a Sergeant named Wegner Horowitz.
Let’s start with the white or ivory color canvas belt it measures: 45 inches long. The soldier has written his name on the belt. There are no rips, no tears, no significant condition issues with the belt. It also has an ivory color leather dress sword holder that is fully intact and stitched well. It has a great looking dome shaped Brass buckle with fine silver fancy script letters “WG” for “Washington Greys” US military unit. They were: a field artillery unit of the New York National Guard with its lineage dating from 1809 to present. Buckle itself measures: 3” x 2 1/4” with brass keeper rolls. If you re-sold just the belt, you could probably get 0. to 0. for the belt and buckle.
Topcoat is gray wool. The uniform is made by famous Military Supplier Ridabock of New York. What really sets this coat off from others are three vertical rows down the front of eight per row, bright fancy Brass Buttons, with a large close-up profile of George Washington’s Head. Total of 24 perfectly matched Buttons in Great to fine condition, each measures 7/8” (almost 1 inch) wide, and with no visible damage to any that I can see. Then there are three more of these exact same size and appearance on the back near the rear coat tails. The back of the brass buttons are imprinted and stamped: “Ridabock Co. of New York” . There are matched buttons on  each bottom sleeve cuff; two smaller half inch wide matched brass buttons with George Washington’s head side profile. Up top on each shoulder epaulets is another button; total 2 brass, each half inch, with New York State Seals on them. Also regarding the buttons with General George Washington image; you have 27 large and 2 smaller that sell, in this condition for - each giving you a value of over 0 just for the buttons on this uniform. On top of each shoulder; are bright red and black piping epaulets with 3” long tassels. Each shoulder board is 8 inches long by 5 1/2 inches at the widest part. If you re-sold just the epaulets, you could get about 0. plus for the pair. The sleeves have the rank embroidered on them. Down the sleeve above the cuff are red and black more embroidering; similarly at the collar, and back near the tails have red and black embroidery. The coat measures: sleeves from top of shoulder to bottom of cuff is 26 inches long, across the back shoulder to shoulder is 15 inches wide, bottom of back collar to bottom of tails is 35”, across chest side to side is 17 inches for a total chest size of 34 inches. The inside of the coat has a cloth cotton lining only tattered near the inside collar. You can try to repair or leave as is. Balance of lining is in very good condition with aged white cotton on top and black lining on bottom also with a fully intact Ridabock label there.
The pants also has the soldiers name “Horowitz” and “Washington Greys” hand written in very old ink below the inside waistband of the trousers. Says waist 31. Pants have a bright red 1 1/4” red bright stripe down each side leg. Gray wool dress pants. Also, has and adjustable wool belt with metal adjustment tab. Inside pants is faded cotton lined waist band, intact lined pockets, and lined crotch. Pants have button down back pockets (all original and plain buttons) and quantity of 8 (eight) original plain buttons around the outside waist. There is also a 5 button fly with plain buttons.
The problems with the uniform include the tattered lining just inside the neck collar (just around) collar lining not on the rest of jacket lining). Moth hole damage on jacket, some large ones on back upper arm below the epaulet at top of shoulder; on other arm sleeve one or two smaller ones on back of arm just above the elbow, and on the right bottom arm cuff. On rear of coat are one or two small ones just above and below tails. Pants: a few large ones on bottom of crotch area; a couple of small ones on one bottom leg. Lots of larger moth holes on the bottom of the other leg. A tailor may be able to help restore some of these areas or display as is. If you want or expect the perfect uniform this is not for you. If you want perfect, please do not bid or buy this item. A perfect 130 year old Spanish American War Dress Uniform For the Washington Greys, Identified to the Soldier with the Belt and 31 original Brass Buttons (29 Gen. Washington and 2 New York State) would literally sell for at least 2 to 3 times my price minimum. So, no, I cannot further heavily discount for moth issues and damage since this is already factored into my price. But, if you want a beautiful looking representation example of this uniform that is original at a good price, then consider this one. See all photographs and details as there are No Returns. Great rare uniform; jacket with tails, brass button, epaulets; belt with sword hanger and brass and silver buckle; and pants from the Spanish American War.