RARE – 18th Century Revolutionary War era “Mud Shoes”, as in museums and books (ON HOLD, MW)

Being offered is a rare pair of Mud Shoes, circa 1720s – 1790s from the large 60+ year collection I am working on. The carved wood sections measure 10” x 3 ½” with elevated forged iron ring bottoms secured to the wood on the front and back. The original tapered leather straps are still present.

They were worn by men, women, and soldiers to keep their garments out of the mud. In the book “Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier: Narrative of Joseph Plum Martin”, he mentions how they were used during the war.

In the Fort Ticonderoga Museum, there is one of these shoes on display, and also two of the iron ring bottoms that were excavated at the fort (see pictures). Also, in the book “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic, there is another example (see pictures).

On occasion, single shoes show up, mostly without the leather, but a complete matching pair rarely happens. As you can see in the pictures, they are in nice condition and I can see this pair ending up in a museum.