The term escutcheon is an Old English word meaning shield. It comes from the original form of heraldry depicting the family coat of arms. Military escutcheons were produced only once during the history of the United States for a period of about 40 years immediately following the Civil War, unitl about 1907. The first military escutcheons were produced under a patent secured in 1868 by Captain John P. Reynolds, formerly of the 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. His company, Renolds Escutcheons of Military and Naval Service, was located in Salem, MA. His first design was of a background and outline of a shield surrounded by scrolls which was produced through the new process of chromolithography. The design was produced in color by a specially prepared stone from which the shield was printed. He then researched the military record of the customer, which he hand-painted on the lithographed paper. The first escutcheons sold for $5. A Reynolds escutcheon can be identified by the quarter panel design, where the military record divides the shield into four parts.

Reynolds left the business in 1880, and a new company, Army and Navy Escutcheion Company, was formed in Philadelphia, near 7th and Sansom Streets, by his former partner, Walter Strickler. Strickler changed the design by having the military record divide the shield into thirds. He also improved the quality of the paper and began introducing more detailed military information.

Strickler remained in Philadelphia until 1886, when he was bought out by Frederick Dyer. Dyer moved the operation to Detroit, Michigan, where he began pursuing business from many soldiers in the midwest and west coast. The research used by Dyer in making his escutcheons was the basis of the now famous volume, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion.

Dyer enhanced the quality of the paper and inks still more, and his escutcheons were often over-painted in oils over the lithography, or were painted as oil-on-canvas. His escutcheons sold for $25.00 or more, and were generally purchased by wealthy veterans. Dyer operated his company until about 1900.

Walter Strickler formed the Army and Navy Record Company and returned to Philadelphia in 1891. He printed a less expensive military scroll style escutcheon which was sold for $5.00. To the best of our knowledge, Strickler printed the last of the Civil War military escutcheons in 1907.