Civil War Era Louisiana Militia Shoulder Belt Breast Plate Pelican 1858 For Sale

Condition Description

Authentic antique Louisiana Militia oval shoulder-belt/breast plate in as-found collectible condition. Brass-colored face displays age-related patina, discoloration, dark spotting, surface wear and loss of original finish. Reverse retains dark lead-type backing with three embedded wire attachment loops/hooks visible. No cleaning or polishing has been performed. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition, construction and measurements.

Algorithm-Rich Description

Outstanding Civil War-era Louisiana Militia oval shoulder-belt plate / breast plate featuring Louisiana’s famous Pelican in Her Piety emblem.

The raised design depicts a pelican feeding her young beneath the scales of justice, surrounded by a rope-style border. The historic Louisiana motto appears around the design as:

JUSTICE — UNION AND CONFIDENCE

This distinctive pattern is documented by O’Donnell and Campbell as Plate 724 in American Military Belt Plates. A specialist dealer describes the original die for the pattern as dating to 1858, immediately preceding the American Civil War.

The plate is approximately 3 inches tall based on the supplied ruler photograph.

The reverse is particularly interesting, displaying a dark lead-type backing with three embedded wire attachment points, construction characteristics worth clearly photographing for serious militaria collectors.

The Louisiana pelican emblem has deep historical significance. The pelican had been associated with Louisiana since the early 19th century, and Louisiana’s Civil War history is closely connected with variations of the pelican seal.

This would make an impressive addition to a collection of Civil War militaria, Louisiana military history, Confederate-era artifacts, militia equipment, belt plates, breast plates, shoulder-belt plates or 19th-century American military artifacts.

Important historical note: Although the pattern’s original die is documented to 1858 and therefore permits Civil War-period examples, specialists report that this same pattern continued to be manufactured after the war. This particular plate has not been independently authenticated or professionally dated.

SEO Keywords

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Humorous Description

Louisiana apparently decided an ordinary eagle wasn’t dramatic enough.

“Give us a pelican, scales of justice, a state motto—and put the whole thing on brass.”

More than 160 years later, it’s still considerably more impressive than the average belt accessory.

Tugmon Valley Sales

Tugmon Valley Sales — Treasure Seekers

We search for unusual antiques, historical pieces and collectibles that have survived long enough to tell a story.

Combined shipping available • Gift wrapping available • Open to reasonable offers

Historical items are photographed carefully and sold in the condition shown. We encourage collectors to examine every photograph, particularly construction details, markings and reverse hardware.