1908 “1902-1907 Officers of the Staff Corps & Departments, General Staff and Chaplain in Full Dress” Chromolithograph by C. Ogden

This colorful lithograph by H. A. Ogden was published in 1908 by Brigadier General J. B. Allshire. Originally published as a comprehensive series of U. S. military uniforms, this print showcases six different uniforms from the years 1902 to 1907 with seven figures total. This specific print depicts the uniforms of the staff corps and general staff. From left to right, the dress is of the Paymaster General, Chaplain, Judge Advocate General, Brigadier General / General Staff 7 Major Medical Department, Chief Bureau of Insular Affairs, and the Inspector General. These positions are written with identifying figures in the bottom margin along with the stated publishing information.

Commissioned officers in the military can be a staff corps officers, meaning they are specialists in their career field that are separate professions in themselves. For example, a staff corps officer could be a doctor, chaplain, or lawyer as a commissioned officer in the military. This would have been one of the last military uniform sketches Ogden created before publishing the book in 1908.

The artist, Henry Alexander Ogden, was an American Illustrator with a passion for early American history. That passion led Ogden to embark on the largest project of his career. He set out to record and illustrate all of the U.S. military uniforms from 1890 to 1907. Not long after Ogden began, the Quartermaster General of the Army approached him and requested he expand his project to include all uniforms since the founding of the nation. Ogden agreed and eventually published all of his popular illustrations in multiple sections. Each print always featured five different ranks, and therefore five different uniforms. This print is no exception.

CONDITION:
Overall very good condition. The lithograph’s colors are vibrant and there is no evidence of discoloration. No creases are visible and the print has no loss or tears. Neatly framed, the print is housed according to archival standards including non-acidic mats and UV protective glass.

Framed Dimensions: 23″ H x 19″ W x 1 ¼” D