RARE WW1 85th Infantry "Custer" Div. Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign for Sale

On eBay Now...

RARE WW1 85th Infantry "Custer" Div. Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

RARE WW1 85th Infantry "Custer" Div. Isorel Masonite SSI Enameled Insignia Sign:
$495.00

This sign shows the early shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) adopted by the 85th Infantry "Custer" division of the United States Army.YOU WILL BE RECEIVING THIS SIGN ONLY, THE SET PICTURE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES.From a nearly? complete set of signs that are shown in the third picture. This set consists of each of the shoulder sleeve insignia used by units from the 1st world war, and are a very hard, glossy paint that I am assuming is an enamel on a confirmed Isorel board painted black, and measures 12 x 12 inches (30.48 cm). They are separated by that thin black paper packaging so common in that era. I am certain that it is Isorel by the cross like pattern of the pressing on the back which matches the Isorel pattern exactly. Isorel was the precursor to Masonite, which was not patented until 1924 and did not begin mass production until 1929. This set was likely produced some time after the war as most units did not have an insignia until then.
About the set:
This is obviously a very rare set and I am confident that it was issued by a significant organization, maybe even the US Military given the quality of the signs. I have had speculation on what they could have been for and it has been suggested that they might have been for a veterans group, but I think that they might have been used more for design purposes, possibly by a company that was in the business of supplying the newly adopted insignia patches to the various units in the US Military. Each of the 85 signs in the set have a hole on the top and bottom of the sign which I believe would be used for mounting, and they appear to have been extensively used. I will be offering each sign for sale individually so please be sure to stay tuned to my other listings as these become available.
About the 85th:
The 85th Infantry Division also known as "Custer Division" (named after the cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer of the infamous "Custer's Last Stand") was an infantry division of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. It currently exists as the 85th Support Command. The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for the 85th Division on 24 December 1918. It was cancelled and a new design approved for the 85th Division (Training) on 29 June 1970 (Pentagon inside octagon). On 24 February 1986, the original shoulder sleeve insignia, (large red "CD" initials) was reinstated for the 85th Division (Training). The insignia was redesignated for the 85th Division (Training Support) effective 17 October 1999. It was redesignated for the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command on 4 November 2008.
shlf