Original Item: Only One Available. Tailor made by William Anderson & Sons located at 17 George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland and marked as such in the neck. This is a fine example of a Victorian officer tunic for the Indian Army Bengal Staff Corps.
In 1861 independent Staff Corps were created for the Bengal, Bombay and Madras Armies. Their purpose was to provide officers for native regiments and to fill Staff and Army Department positions. In addition, officers could be selected for civil and political placements. The separate Staff Corps were subsequently combined into the Indian Staff Corps.
The tunic is in very good condition and features original Gilt buttons by Pitt and Company, with Queen Victoria’s cypher, ‘VR’, within a garter bearing the unit title, surmounted by a crown. A nearly identical button can be found in the UK Nation Army Museum collection and seen at this link. All buttons are present but one, even the smaller epaulet shoulder board buttons are included.
Tunic measures approximately a 34-inch chest, 28-inch waist, 27-inch length and about 24 inches from shoulder to sleeve.