United Kingdom. An East Lancashire Regiment Scarlet Officer's Dress Tunic, c.1881

Formed in 1881, the East Lancashire Regiment was noted for wearing the traditional scarlet ceremonial dress tunic such as the example offered here; this tunic dates from the early formation of the regiment which was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot and 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot with the militia and rifle volunteer units of eastern Lancashire. The tunic, which dates during this early transition period, does not yet have the East Lancashire Regiment buttons however does display prominent Red Roses of Lancaster in extremely heavily silver bullion on the collar, collar formed of high quality bullion work featuring oak leaves and acorns as well as the roses in high relief, cuffs of the tunic are of equal quality and has a pleasing toning to the silver work, as this tunic presents 9 Victorian Queen's Crown buttons, as originally sewn, rather than the later East Lancashire Regiment buttons which present Egyptian iconography from their 1881 campaign, each button made by Hawkes & Co, a extremely high-end private purchase clothier which still exists today, interior with white silk with reinforcing cross stitching with brown leather waist belt, with buckle, measures with a 90 cm waist, 43 cm arms, 40 cm collar, and a total length of 74 cm, with wear from light use, remains very fine.