STRAPS : The Evolution of US Army Shoulder Straps

STRAPS
The Evolution of the United States Army
Shoulder Straps

————–

By Dr. Howard G. Lanham
=============================
1998 – first / only edition and printing
===============================

Condition : Softcover, Brand New – just out of the case.

Another bookseller and I purchased all of Dr. Lanham’s unsold copies.
According to Dr. Lanham, he originally bought 500 copies.

Some years later, the printer contacted him and said they had some copies left
that were excess from his original order – did he want to buy them ?

Dr. Lanham said that in all, between the original order and the excess the
printer printed, there were about 750 copies printed.

We purchased the last couple of unopened cases that he had.
============================================================

From the author’s original overview :

This extensively researched and documented book traces one of the oldest item of insignia still used by the United States Army. Shoulder straps (shoulder boards) were used as an insignia of grade (rank) by the U.S. Army since the 1830s. The book traces their evolution from their introduction to modern times with a particular focus on the Civil War period.

It is illustrated with 87 photographs, including seven full page color plates of 42 different shoulder straps. These include period images of straps being worn and modern photographs of artifact shoulder straps. In addition, there are 29 line drawings from manufactures catalogs, period lithographs, Army regulations and other sources.

The book details when and why Army regulations changed, dating and manufacturing techniques, collector mythology, common misrepresentations, etc. It also contains a brief discussion of U.S. Navy, Confederate, and lodge shoulder straps. Tables list information regarding branch of service colors, manufactures, etc.

Much of this material has never appeared in print before.

Contents Include
The Origin of the Shoulder Strap 1829-1834
The Bimetalic Era 1835-1850
The Golden Era 1851-1871 Regulation Shoulder Straps
The Golden Era 1851-1871 Nonregulation Shoulder Straps
The Silver Era 1872-1901
Towards Obsolescence 1902-1936
The Modern Era 1937 – Present
Other Shoulder Straps
Appendix A: Suppliers of Shoulder Straps
Appendix B: Key of Branch Colors
Appendix C: Regulation Border Dimensions
Appendix D: Color Photographs
Appendix E: Styles of Grade Devices