binocular strap?

[Pvt Schnapps]

Originally Posted by PogueMahone

Well, thank God I'm not in the Signal Service!

And don't get me started on pince-nez! I've been admiring several sets on eBay this morning. Another underrepresented item in this hobby!

Pince-nez are interesting, but there's a real distinction between the earlier and later nose rests, or whatever they are (you probably already know this).

There's actually a lesson there, I think. If people secured their pince nez various ways, why wouldn't they have secured their longer-range glasses, especially if the Signal Corps mentions their value on horseback and in boats?

Anyway, I wouldn't trim off the strap loops yet. New works appear on Google Books every day. The moment you do, someone will find documentation that they're correct after all.

I realize this falls far short of documentation. However, I put personal, private purchase items (as most telescopes and field glasses were) in a different category than government issued equipment (as only some were). Documentation of a specific make and model to a particular year or even decade can be difficult. Sometimes the best you can do is make a choice between something vaguely of the period or a wretched repro. I'm thinking specifically of traveling inkwells, but I think it may apply here as well. We have all kinds of documentation of the use of field-glasses, but I'm not aware of a quality reproduction and I think it would be a sin to take an original into the field.

[ThehosGendar]

Totally off topic and late, but look at the interior stitching of Col. Stokes' collar lining. Hoo-wee. Awesome stuff. Love the high-res.!

[PogueMahone]

dragging an old thread back out of the closet to see if the moths have eaten it yet ...

I was perusing a picture book "Rebels and Yankees: Commanders of the Civil War" by William Davis and on a page featuring Stonewall Jackson's belongings is a pair of binoculars that have straps attached to little rings on the sides of the eyepieces.

So, maybe the little straps are correct after all ...

[Pvt Schnapps]

Or maybe Jackson was just a farb -- where do you get lemons in the Valley, anyway?

Seriously, nice find: is there a credit on the picture?

[OldKingCrow]

Originally Posted by Pvt Schnapps

Or maybe Jackson was just a farb -- where do you get lemons in the Valley, anyway?

All over Richmond..here is but a few of many:

The Daily Dispatch: March 15, 1861.

Richmond Markets,March 14, 1861.

Fruit.--Oranges: Havana$9 per bbl. Lemons: $3.50@4.00 per box. Raisins: Bunch $2.75@$3; layers $3@3.25. Prunes 10 to 40 centsper box, according to quality. Figs 10@20 cents per .

The Daily Dispatch: July 8, 1862.
James River July 4, 1862.

Large quantities of canteens, letters, writing paper, lemons → , boxes, etc., have washed ashore here, and are found daily along the south shores of James river. These are supposed to have been thrown away at Shirley by the panic-stricken Yankees.

[Pvt Schnapps]

See, I was expecting Hank to set me straight on that Thanks!

[PogueMahone]

Originally Posted by Pvt Schnapps

Or maybe Jackson was just a farb -- where do you get lemons in the Valley, anyway?

Seriously, nice find: is there a credit on the picture?

Well, the book is at home and I am not. However, the photos in this series of books is nearly identical to the Echoes of Glory photos. Most of the same items and many very similar layouts/displays.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Originally Posted by PogueMahone

Well, the book is at home and I am not. However, the photos in this series of books is nearly identical to the Echoes of Glory photos. Most of the same items and many very similar layouts/displays.

Bingo -- it's in the Stonewall Jackson "memorabilia" collection at the Museum of the Confederacy: http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer?p...kson_artifacts

I have the same photo in a generally negligible source called The Civil War Catalog; thanks for pointing it out.

[PogueMahone]

I finally remembered to come back and look at this. The photo I'm looking at is on page 14/15 of the book. There is no credit to a photographer but the artifacts are listed as belonging to VMI, Museum of the Confederacy and the Virginia Historical Society. It isn't the same image you posted, but those appear to be the same binoculars.