As an iconic symbol of the American GI, the dog tag has gained considerable cultural recognition. This book returns to the origins of the dog tag with an in-depth look at all 49 styles of Civil War era Union identification discs, including detailed photographs and histories for individual discs as well as a general history of the origin and production of identification discs. This work also provides a general guide to the authentication of identification discs for use by collectors.

Attorney and civil war lecturer Larry B. Maier lives in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
Joseph W. Stahl is a retired researcher for the Institute for Defense Analyses. His articles have appeared in the Gettysburg Magazine, Civil War Historian and other publications. He lives in Keedysville, Maryland.

Larry B. Maier and Joseph W. Stahl
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 222
Bibliographic Info: 389 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010 [2008]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6106-6
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5213-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Foreword by Edwin C. Bearss      1
Preface      3

1. Introduction to Identification Discs      5
2. Descriptions and Images of Identification Disc Styles      24
3. Soldiers and Their Identification Discs      76
4. Authentication      149
5. Survey of Identification Discs by State and Style      165

Epilogue      189
Chapter Notes      197
Bibliography      205
Index      207

“detailed, fascinating, and highly readable…highly recommended for collectors and libraries with an interest in the Civil War”—ARBA; “meticulously researched”—www.swpacivilwar.com.