CDV- U.S. Marine wearing his Undress Blouse -White Belt and Forage Cap with the “EGA.”

CDV- U.S. Marine wearing his Undress Blouse -White Belt and Forage Cap with the “EGA.”  A scarce image of a marine private wearing his white waist belt and plain buckle along with the new pattern Eagle Globe & Anchor insignia on his forage cap introduced in 1868.  Written on the bottom of the mount is, “Blouse, Uniform,” This designation may be for the regulation changes of 1892 with addition of the shoulder tabs.

The photographer is Souby, Edward J. Souby worked at 113 Canal Street, New Orleans beginning around 1878 into the early 1890s,  The notation at the bottom of the image may indicate this new addition to the blouse, why would it have been mentioned otherwise.

The scarcity of this image related to the number of men in the Marine Corps from 1892 up through 1896 at being approximately a bit over 2000 men strong, and climbing to nearly 4000 just before and up to 1898.

Very good condition