Revolutionary War Leather Cartridge Box from very old collection (SOLD)

This is another nice early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 artifacts. Being offered is a well-used Revolutionary War leather cartridge box. It measures 9” x 3” x 3 1/2”, is curved (“belly box”), two belt loops on the back, and has a single closing flap. Embossed into the flap is a star motif, a popular design during the war. Inside is a wooden box with 13 round sleeves to hold the soldier’s cartridges. This design would be typical of an American piece.

The leather accoutrements dating from the earliest days of our Nation had several factors working against their survival in order to be available to modern collectors.  At the risk of stating the obvious, by virtue of the fact they were the first accoutrements of their kind used in North America, they have had to survive 200 plus years of wear and tear and have been subject to less than ideal storage. 

They were also produced and available at the time of issue in smaller numbers than later generations of accoutrements.  Whether the accoutrements were issued to the pre-Revolutionary Army militias, captured from the British, or produced in the colonies, the numbers never reached the level of production witnessed during the Civil War that resulted in so much unused surplus. 

And finally, the Revolutionary War accoutrements were likely to have seen continued use after the war, whether it was in a regular army or local militia unit, taken home by the soldier to defend his farm, or carried out on to the frontier as the country expanded west, and in any of those circumstances the accoutrements were simply used to destruction, leaving the very few that exist today in public and old established private collections.  Many were also reused in the War of 1812. It is very unusual for one of these boxes to appear on the market, especially in such respectable condition.  

As seen in the pictures, the box has definitely been well used, there are even crude period repairs to keep it functional, this only adds to proof of its extended use. The leather remains somewhat pliable with very minimal flaking or cracks.

This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions and closed museums. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with any known provenance. In “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic, many cartridge boxes are shown (see pictures).

This is the first time it has been on the open market, and it is truly a great piece of early American History. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included.  As with all items on the website, the very friendly layaway is available.