CAMPBELL BUTTON. An interesting period chapeau by Starkey of London. The Confederate States Naval Regulations do not call for a chapeau as part of the official uniform; however, chapeaus were popular with Naval officers and were regulation for the Union Navy. It is quite easy to imagine a Confederate Naval officer having a private purchase chapeau in his sea chest. This chapeau is fine beaver with a black grosgrain cockade on the side. In front of the cockade are four rows of gold bullion with a coat-size Confederate States Navy button. The button is backmarked “S. ISSACS CAMPBELL & CO LONDON 71 JERMYN. ST”. The interior of the chapeau has a silk lining with a British crest above the words “JOSEPH STARKEY 23, CONDUIT ST London”. Starkey was a prolific supplier of naval uniforms to the US Navy. He is also known to have produced uniforms for the Confederacy, and his retailer backmark is known on Confederate Navy buttons. CONDITION: the chapeau does show moderate wear throughout, with some loss of knap on the beaver. The bullion is a bit loose at the top, and the button retains its substantial original gilded finish with no damage. The interior markings are clear. (02-21301/BF). $700-1,000.