GALWAY MILITIA OFFICERS COATEE.

An exceedingly rare Irish Militia coatee dated from the period 1820 to approximately 1850. Any of the early British uniform items of this style are extremely difficult to find, this example is in excellent scarlet cloth with mustard coloured facings to the cuffs and collar. The collar is with silver bullion lace, each breast is tailored for 10 silvered regimental buttons arranged in pairs, eagle button is Victorian Crown over intertwined ‘GM’, the buttons are closed back with maker’s details of ‘P & S Firmin 150 strand’. To the reverse side are two false pockets ornamented with lace and four buttons and the tails again with mustard facings, on the base of each tail there is a beautifully embroidered in gold and silver wire with green thread plus sequins The Order of St.Patrick, the interior with silk padded lining. The overall condition is good, some minor staining to the lower left hand cuff as the tunic is viewed, also what appears to be burn stains and some very minor moth nips. The silk to the interior lining has shot in minor places. Unusually all of the 42 regimental buttons are complete. The four tailored holes for affixing the shoulder boards when present are clear and visible. Before the development of the standing army Britain and overseas territories depended for defence in times of war upon locally raised citizen forces. In Ireland the 1st Militia were raised in 1715, the Galway Militia was raised prior to 1752 and the Militia unit were associated with the regular line regiment of the Connaught Rangers.

Code: 77923