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Title Sapeurs Pompiers de San-Francisco helmet plate
Nationality French
Period c 1830-48
Sold

These were worn on a brass helmet with a high comb and elaborate chinscales. They were nominally part of the army and the '2' denotes the regiment. However, there is a puzzle here. San Francisco is the Spanish spelling of the name rather than the French - could this point to a West Indies or Canadian connection?

It is a die-struck badge in gilding metal (10.5 x 12cm) and its condition is excellent, although patinated with age. One soldered fitting on the reverse has worked loose. There is a die fault to the left-hand axe, visible in the photograph, showing a split of approximately 1.5cm.

Prov: from the J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd. Pattern Book Archive, sold at auction by order of the National Army Museum, London.

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.


[Militaria : Badges : American : 19th Century]

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Wanted to let you know the items arrived today. Great job on the packing. Too often I buy very expensive and irreplaceable items from the UK and they get sent barely packed to protect them from the various postal services - appreciate you going the extra mile to insure it arrived in the shape it left. Thanks again, look forward to doing business with you in the future. Items were very nice, exactly as offered.

M M, USA, 18.03.2010

I collected my iron cross this am from the sorting office. Thank you for the medal; as before it's a very nice one. Thank you for your prompt service and I look forward to purchasing more in the future from you and your wonderful site.

J B, UK, 07.12.2006

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