DATING TO THE 1860’S IT IS SO VERY RARE TO FIND THESE EARLY CIVIL WAR ERA WALKING SUIT BUSTLE GOWNS. FASHIONED OF A WHITE LINEN COTTON BLEND AND IS THREE PIECE IN CONSTRUCTION. THE SET APPEAR TO BE HAND SEWN THROUGHOUT. THE BODICE HAS THE SLEEVES SET OFF THE SHOULDER WITH PIPED SEAMS WITH THE SLEEVES IN CRESCENT SHAPE. HAND APPLIED DARK BROWN SOUTACHE DETAILING TRIMS ACROSS THE FRONT TOP AND ALONG THE BOTTOM OF EACH FRONT SLEEVE. STITCHED GROMMET HOLES ARE ON THE FRONT WITH HAND HAMMERED HOOKS FITTING THROUGH THE GROMMETS WITH A FLAT PANEL FRONT. BRAID ENCIRCLES THE NECKLINE WITH THE INNER EDGE TRIMMED IN A LACE DETAIL. THE OVER SKIRT IS TRIMMED IN BRAID DETAILING ALL AROUND THE BOTTOM WITH A FLAT EDGING HAVING A SLIGHT RUFFLED EDGE WITH BRAID AT THE TOP CONNECTION. MATCHING REAR TAIL DETAILING ACROSS THE CENTER BACK WITH HOOK AND STRING EYE CLOSURE AT THE SIDE. THE UNDER SKIRT CLOSES ON THE LEFT SIDE AS WELL AND IS IN MATCHING DETAIL AS THE OVER SKIRT JUST ON A LARGER SCALE WITH BRAIDING TRIMMING THE BOTTOM EDGE. CONDITION: THIS SET IS FULLY STRONG, WEARABLE, AND DURABLE. SMALL BRAID ABSENCE SEEN TO THE COLLAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND CENTER REAR. SMALL BRAID ABSENCE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SHOULDER. SOME VERY FAINT SPOT STAINING IS SEEN ON THE LEFT CHEST AND LEFT FRONT SHOULDER WITH SEVERAL PINHEADS ON THE FRONT AT THE CLOSURE. A DOZEN SMALL SPOT STAINS ARE SEEN ON THE REAR BODICE ON THE RIGHT BOTTOM SIDE. I SUSPECT THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN FANCIFUL BUTTONS TRIMMING THE FRONT AS THERE ARE TRACE THREADS VISIBLE. OVER SKIRT IS MISSING ONE OF THE HOOKS AT THE SIDE. THERE IS A SMALL ERASER SIZED FRAY HOLE JUST ASIDE THE CLOSURE. SIX SMALL SPOT STAINS ARE JUST ASIDE THE TAIL ON THE BODY OF THE SKIRT ON THE RIGHT SIDE JUST BENEATH THE WAISTBAND WITH SEVERAL VERY FAINT HARD TO NOTE SMALL BROWN PINHEAD STAINS TO THE BODY OF THE SKIRTING. THE UNDER SKIRT HAS SOME LIGHT BROWN FINGERTIP SPOT STAINS WITH A DOUBLE HAND SIZED AREA OF VERY FAINT BROWN SPOTTED AGE COLOR AT TWO POINTS ON THE VERY BOTTOM LAYER. A CRUDE UTILITARIAN COTTON WAISTBAND HAS NO HOOK AND EYE ENCLOSURES, POSSIBLY A REPLACEMENT BUT IS FULLY HAND SEWN SO MAY VERY WELL BE THE ORIGINAL. A VERY RARE, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND, WALKING SUIT OF THE CIVIL WAR ERA. MEASUREMENTS IN INCHES: BUST: 34 WAIST: 25 SHOULDERS SEAM TO SEAM: 18SLEEVE LENGTH: 20 CENTER REAR LENGTH: 13 1/2 OVER SKIRT:WAIST: 25 CENTER REAR LENGTH: 33 UNDER SKIRT:WAIST: 26CENTER REAR LENGTH NOT INCLUDING WAISTBAND: 45 our business name is ANTIQUE WARDROBE . We can be found online on other platforms as well(Antiquewardrobe_ as well as Antique-Wardrobe ) We reserve the right to end an item IF the item has no bids, but we will not end an item once it has a bid…if an item has a bid we will not end the auction. ** we NEVER give partial refunds, if something was missed, we are indeed human and although rare… a mistake can happen… return the item Shipping as well as customs cannot be avoided on eBay , but other platforms do not require those fees… Find us online Vintage and antique items ARE NOT new items. Vintage clothing is described to its best and sold as found…and described as accurately as possible. The items HAVE NOT been cleaned and should be cleaned prior to wearing at the discretion of the buyer. Often for proper fit, hang, and wear ability, pieces will need to be altered and/or adding a hook or snap here or there, with a seam closure or strengthening needed. Vintage clothing is most often worn previously, and if old stock, often has slight imperfections from storage, a hint of color or odor. Measurements are to be assumed that they are at maximum, if you have any questions, please ask PRIOR to the auction’s end. These are antique articles, having the age stated….all flaws if any are painstakingly outlined. The exact color and sizing of an item is the responsibility of the bidder, please read the measurements carefully and ask questions if uncertain _gsrx_vers_1653 (GS 9.7.5 (1653))