Saber belt and spurs attributed to Confederate Colonel E. J. Harvie. The group consists of a black, folded leather saber belt with three-piece brass belt buckle bearing the Virginia State Seal and a pair of cast brass eagle head spurs with twelve-pointed iron rowels. The group is accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity by Steve Mullinax, author of "CONFEDERATE BELT BUCKLES AND PLATES" dated 1998. the letter states that the author believes the belt set is authentic and was "used in the Confederacy during the American Civil War". Also included with the group is a photocopy of a typed and notarized letter that states the belt was originally property of Colonel Edwin James Harvie, C.S.A. of Chula, Virginia. The belt is constructed of folded black leather and has two sliding leather keepers and two sliding leather loops for saber/sword slings. A leather tongue stitched to the inside of the belt to protect the uniform from contact with the buckle. The light-medium weight belt is a typical pre-war or early Civil War pattern officer's saber belt. The three piece brass belt plate is typical of the type used by Virginia militia officers ca. 1850-1890. The plate displays the Great Seal of Virginia which depicts Virtue with an upraised sword and spear over the vanquished Tyranny surrounded by the motto "SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS/VIRGINIA". The outer portion of the buckle and the edges of both keepers is decorated with cast oak leaves. The buckle and keeper are not bench-marked. The belt is complete with two delicate, gold-plated, brass saber hangers with snap hooks. The relatively lightweight construction of the belt and light-weight, full-dress saber hangers probably means this belt was probably intended for wear with a dress uniform and was not a service belt. The fact that the belt has a Virginia state seal buckle when documents that accompany the belt indicate Colonel Harvie served in the Army of Tennessee may indicate that this belt is a pre-Civil War militia officer's belt. The three piece brass spurs have well detailed cast eagle heads and are complete with the original black leather straps. The flashy eagle head design is also typical of spurs that were popular during the Mexican War and the period before the Civil War. This is a rare officers saber belt with Virginia state seal and high quality officer's spurs attributed to a Civil War Confederate Colonel.

Fine. The light weight folded weather shows typical wear with one small tear in the upper edge of the belt, some loose stitching on the inside and scattered flaking on the edges of the belt and keepers. The light-weight Civil War officers saber belts were delicate and are hard to find in the complete condition. The belt buckle has an attractive patina and is in very good condition with moderate handling wear. The saber hangers are in excellent condition and retain most of the gold plated finish. The spurs are in very good condition with a nice, untouched patina; the straps are original to the spurs and are in good condition. This is a very good example of a rare, identified, Civil War Confederate officer's group.