Extremely Rare Schuylkill Arsenal Produced Fez as Worn by Pennsylvania's Famed Collis Zouaves. This classic headgear of the ... (Total: 2 Items)

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Extremely Rare Schuylkill Arsenal Produced Fez as Worn by Pennsylvania's Famed Collis Zouaves. This classic headgear of the Civil War zouave, a brick red fez cap with long yellow woolen tassel, is identical to those worn by Col. Charles Collis' regiment throughout the war and is accompanied by an equally rare original order for them sent from Schuylkill Arsenal commander George Crosman to Philadelphia hatters Adolph and Keen. The stiff felt body shows only minor wear and still retains about half its gold edging along the base. As with all such headgear, it was made without lining. Still firmly attached is the dramatic, original yellow wool 10" long tassel suspended from the crown by a 4" long matching wool cord. Nothing embodies the romantic figure of a Civil War zouave more. With the fez is a beautifully framed order dated November 28, 1862 on the stationery of the "Army Clothing and Equipage Office" in Philadelphia authorizing Adolph and Keen to "furnish at the Schuylkill Arsenal, Six Hundred/and fifty (650) Crimson Fez Caps, with yellow tassel; at Ninety nine (99) cents, each." It further states that they should be identical "to those furnished by you/before, for Col. Collis' Zouaves d'Afrique-114th/Regiment P.V." A marginal note from the hatters states that they can be ready in "10 or 12 days." A very rare item of headgear hardly ever offered on the market.