Massachusetts Militia Cards: Part 5

   As every Christmas, my wife asked what I wanted for Christmas.  Instead of my normal "nothing", I asked for cigarette cards. After a brief description, she simply gave me the "you're crazy!" look and said  ok. I ordered several lots that consisted of Massachusetts militia uniforms. I also ordered several pages of card holders, so I can finally take them out of the old box that I've lost several times. There are several duplicates, but at least I have all the Massachusetts cards that I know of.  I have posted below the collection of Massachusetts  cards, even ones I have shown before.

Militia Cigarette Cards: Part 4

       With my most recent posts about militia uniforms illustrated on cigarette cards, I found myself looking for more.  I bought 10 more, all of Massachusetts militia uniforms. As I bought two sets, I got several duplicates.  A am going to try to collect at least as many Massachusetts cards as I can.

Militia Cigarette Cards: Part 3

 

Militia Cigarette Cards: Part 2

 

Militia Cigarette Cards

     I mentioned on replying to comments in my last post that I have several cigarettes cards on militia units of the late 1800's in the United States. I have scanned a few of them for your viewing pleasure.

   I also recommend those interested in US military uniforms of the 18th and 19th century to go toheritagemuseumsandgardens.org  Once on the site go to "engage" then to "collections", which should bring you to where you can access the collection of military miniatures showing early American uniforms up to the late 1800's. They are truly inspirational figures and well worth checking out.

Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Cards

Ian Dury, my constant source of Peter Laing figures has come through again, this time with photos of Waldrof Astoria cigarettes cards of Imperial Germany uniforms, with regimental standards to boot!

I hope people find these useful. If so, I will continue to keep downloading more when I'm not involved in wargaming.

German Uniform Cigarette Cards

With my last couple of posting of militia uniform cigarette cards, I heard from Ian Dury that he has a book of German cigarette cards and was willing to share photographs of the uniforms with me.  Of course I would love to see them. The cards I have are Kinney Cigarette cards that were published in the USA. While my main interest in the Kinney cards are militia uniforms, I have gotten some of the foreign uniform cards they published, including 4 from the German Empire. I though I would post them to show Kinneys version of European uniforms.

Peter Laing FPW Germans and more Militia Cards

First on todays blog is a couple of shots of Peter Laing Hesse Darmstadt infantry sent to me by Ian Dury, who has been me main source of hard to find Peter Laings. Ian's photos are a constant source of inspiration.  These figures could also be used for   the militia figures. I have read a lot of comments about how bad PL figures are. However, most critics forget that PL figures were the first 15mm made. They opened a whole new world of wargames. Also,when compared to the first Britains, both the Peter Laings and early Britains have about the same detail. Maybe someday Peter Laings will be considered collectable. 

More 1880's Militia Uniforms

Shortly after my last blog, I went to one of my favorite blogs, Battle Game of the Month, and there was a new posting of Zinnbrigade marching soldiers in spiked helmets, but painted similar to dress uniforms of the United States army of the late 1800's, with some minor changes. This unit is for an "Imaginations" style wargame. And as I have the same molds and have thought along the same lines in the past, I figured to show more of the militia cards I have  just to show how colorful such an army could be.

  

1800's American Militia Uniforms

One of my interests is the American history of militias. The height of Militias was in the 1800's.  By the 1830's the idea of every man turning out for drill was pretty much a thing of the past. However, Volunteer militias started blossoming in cities throughout the country. They tended to be more social clubs of the merchant class and upper class. They chose their own uniforms and names. While most units were of company, battery or squadron strength, some units were regiment strength. These formed the basis of both the Union and Confederate armies at the start of the Civil War. Even after the Civil War  the Militia was an important part of the United States military and continued to wear uniforms of their choice until the early 1900's.  

Several years ago I came across some old cigarette cards featuring Militia uniforms of the late 1800's. Shown below are some of them. I think they would be ideal for painting Peter Laings for use with imaginations. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.