[UNIFORMS]. British Army Contractor's Prototype Officer's Tunic. [Ca. 1860s]. Men’s wool dress tunic (label states “Pattern B” but no size). Shoulder to shoulder length approximately 16 ½”. Minor occasional soiling. Fine. This prototype is a beautiful example of the tailor's art, featured in a tunic with various ranks and division motifs. The high quality wool is adorned with felt, leather, cotton, gilt Artillery buttons, various bullion braid and insignia representations. From shoulder braid to trim ribbon, no two areas are alike and the details are truly astonishing; and no expense was spared on the heavily quilted interior lining either. The stitched in label attests to the nature of the odd assemblage of trim with “War Office” and “Pattern B” written in ink and the tailor’s name, “J. Daniels & Co.” To this day, when private contractors prepare the new uniforms for various branches of the military, samples for different ranks are made for approval and in the 19th Century, this process was no different. This prototype would have been submitted to the War Office for style selection and eventual final production. The condition is excellent for a garment of this age. For the collector of military uniforms of the British Army of the 19th Century this is indeed a rare item.