A black bridle leather Civil War US 1st 1864 Pattern .58 Caliber Cartridge Box with oval “US” plate, and a partially legible contractor stamp on the inner flap: “(---) / [SPRING]F'LD MASS.” The exterior leather exhibits light-moderate surface crazing, especially along the flex points, on the lightly worn edges of the cover, and on the closure tab. The belt loops are intact, and the japanned shoulder strap buckles are both present and in very good condition. The interior leather is in fine shape, although there is uniform crackling along the surface of the inner flap, and the tin inserts are both in excellent condition. The die-struck, lead-filled box plate has a mostly dark ochre patina with slightly dented edges and one detached iron attachment loop. The plate has an old collection tag that reads “Found at Mule Shoe Salient” (Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse). This is a very nice late-war US cartridge box, and rates very good to fine overall condition.
