Army Officer’s  Dress Wellington Boot
Bespoke – Antelope over Black Shell Cordovan
Peal & Co.
Circa 1960
Euro 1220

The Wellington boot dates from the early 19th century and is based upon the 18th century Hessian boots.  It was popularized by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington who instructed his shoemaker, Hoby of St. James’ Street, London, to modify the 18th century Hessian boot by removing the trim, cutting it more closely to the leg and ending it at mid-calf.  With a semi-pointed toe and low stacked heel, it was an ideal cavalry boot, durable and protective in battle and yet comfortable out of the saddle. The Wellington boot quickly became a standard officers boot for both uniform and evening dress, and soon became fashionable among the British aristocracy as well.

First let us dispel any similarity to Brook Brothers products marketed under the Peal name. This is a bespoke/custom made boot actually made by Peal & Co. before its dissolution.  Moreover, the present pair is doubly remarkable for its two leathers rarely in use in the mid-century. Cordovan was decades away from gaining popularity in England or on the Continent and the few Cordovan shoes from the period are all custom made. Antelope is as rare today as it was then, I see one or two Wellington Boots a year but this is the only pair in Antelope I have seen in my entire career. It is very likely that the gentleman-officer for whom these boots were custom made provided the hide to Peal himself, a souvenir from shooting game in Africa.

Please notice the spur-jacks in the heels; many regiments wore spur to formal dinners. (Spurs provided separately; please inquire.) Finally, it would be fair to say this is an extremely rare item, something for the collector but eminently wearable for formal or casual dress, with or without the removable spurs, an elegant design, handsome worn under or over trousers.

History of the firm: “Peal and Co were founded in 1565 and were the oldest-established and most successful makers in the world, employing up to 200 staff. The firm was established in Durham and moved to Derby in 1765, reaching London in 1791. In 1953 Peal bought their Oxford Street neighbours, Bartley and Son, inheriting their Boot and Fox emblem and moved to Wigmore Street in 1958. The business closed early in 1965, when the family decided that lack of family succession, a declining trade and shortage of skilled staff made closure their best option. The closure of Peal and Co was very helpful to the remaining shoemakers in London including Foster and Son, who acquired two important assets, the boot and fox emblem and Mr. Terry Moore, Peal’s master last maker. The old Peal lasts are still said to be in use by Foster & Son.

Peal & Co. counted among their clients, luminaries from both sides of the Atlantic, among them (a much shortened list);

Fred Astaire
Ethel Barrymore, John Barrymore
Humphrey Bogart & Mrs. H Bogart (Lauren Bacall)
Sir Charles Chaplin
Gary Cooper
Mrs. Walt Disney
Sir Douglas Fairbanks
Henry Fonda
James Garner
Cary Grant
Rex Harrison
Boris Karloff
Steve McQueen
Sir.John Mills
Sir David Niven
Sir Laurence Olivier
Mary Pickford
Mrs Rudolph Valentino
Guy de Rothschild
Henry Ford II & Mrs H Ford
Benny Goodman
Dean Martin,
Jehudi Menuhin
Richard Avedon
Lady Violet Bonham Carter nee Asquith, 40 Gloucester Sq.,
Mrs. Neville Chamberlain
Rt. Hon Sir Anthony Eden KG
Dean G Acheson, US Secretary of State
Barry Goldwater, Senator
Edward L Kennedy
John F Kennedy
Mr. Marx of Berlin c/o Dr W Smith, West Lodge, West End Lane, Hampstead
Col. Elliott Roosevelt, son of FDR & Eleanor
Theodore Roosevelt
HM King Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor
Hon F Bowes-Lyon, brother of the Queen Mother
F J Bowes-Lyon, Grenadier Guards
Lady Rosemary Spencer Churchill
Lord Louis Mountbatten
Duke of Westminster
Prince Aga Khan
Princess Eugene of Belgium
King of the Hellenes (Greece)
Crown Princess of Greece
Prince Nicholas of Greece
Prince Peter of Greece
Crown Prince Constantine of Greece
Crown Princess of Japan
King & Crown Prince of Norway
Prince Christian of Schleswig Holstein
Crown Prince of Sweden
Queen Marie of Yugoslavia

Size Details:

Shoe Condition:

Near new, showing trivial wear.