Description

Reminiscent of mid 19th c. and earlier “Trade” blankets here is one of our latest additions to the private purchase collection. Just like our others, these wool blankets are made as the lower cost, blankets of the period being made of 75% wool and 25% shoddy. (shoddy being the period term for inferior material made of any number of sources woven together) In this case the shoddy is cotton and wool rag. They will hold up under campaign and civilian field use just fine. They provide economical and much needed additional warmth on winter campaign and also make great horse blankets.  They are a good example of the result of more restricted resource materials necessitated by the circumstance of the war and the overall state of the more economic production goods sold in the common working class marketplace. Much has been written about a good blanket and the virtues of the best when needed. However, the war period was rife with “shoddy” and less quality goods sold to the government, directly to soldiers and the civilian population and should be more represented in the hobby. In this case the item is still sufficient quality for rigorous use and adequate for the intended purpose, yet at least a third of the price. The color scheme on this blanket is a beautiful rich almost royal blue, yet still a bit muted, with a good period trade blanket look. In this case the wider white stripe pattern and a single narrower stripe run down the center and middle of each side length wise, for a bit different yet documented style. Weighing in at just a bit under 4 lbs  and measuring appr. 62″ x 80″ with raw cut ends as seen on original examples – ready for the owner to blanket stitch and further personalize or simply leave as is. A slightly lighter blanket, great as a second blanket in winter camp, and easier to carry for milder cool transitional temps, southern climate campaigning, and even that warmer weather campaign when a blanket is still desired.