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Vintage Queens Counsel Barrister Morning Coat DP O’Connell

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This is a vintage Queen’s or Senior Counsel barrister morning coat that belonged to a very distinguished barrister and professor, Daniel Patrick O’Connell (1924-1979).  O’Connell had an illustrious career, passing the New Zealand Bar in 1947 and receiving his Ph.D from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1951.  He joined the University of Adelaide, Australia in 1953 after practicing law in Australia for two years, and in 1972 was elected the Chichele professor of public international law at All Souls College, Oxford, a very prestigious position.  He split his time between Oxford and Adelaide every two years.  He was considered an expert in International Law and authored two books, the 2 volume International Law, and the 2 volume treatise The International Law of the Sea, both considered monumental works.  He continued to practice law while teaching, participating in a number of important and landmark cases.  There were many accomplishments, too numerous to mention here.  

I’m unsure if O’Connell used this morning coat in Australia or in Great Britain - it is called a Queen’s Counsel morning coat in Britain and a Senior Counsel morning coat in Australia.  It is made of a quality black wool - I’ve lightened the photos a bit so that you can see detailing, and some might call this dark charcoal grey, but it is essentially black.  It has padded shoulders, is collarless, has seven covered buttons down the front, a single hook and loop closure at the waist, three buttons at the naval style cuffs and a number of buttons at the back.  The interior is lined in a viscose fabric.  No pants are included.

Label: R.M. Manlapat The most talked about name in male fashion Manila Philippines.  Manlapat was founded in 1951 and voted best tailor in the Philippines for a number of years.  Because this was commissioned in the Philippines, my feeling is that O’Connell used this in Australia, although possibly he used it both in Britain and Australia.

Tailor’s label: Specially Tailored For D.P. O’Connell 

Sizing: Being custom tailored there is no size, but this will fit a medium size, perhaps a modern size 38, maybe 40.  Please rely on the following measurements for fit, comparing them to another jacket that you may own or your body measurements, allowing some room for fit:

Shoulders: 18” across seam-to-seam

Sleeves: 27” long taken from the shoulder/sleeve seam

Sleeve Inseam: 20” long

Chest: 42” around, taken under the arms (21” across pit-to-pit)

Waist: 39 1/2” around

Overall length: 44“ taken at the back from the neck seam to the bottom

Condition:  It is in very good condition with no wear, tear, holes, nibbles, stains or odours. This morning coat appears to have seen little use and has been very well cared for.  Difficult to date precisely, but I would think 1960s to 70s.

This is a very nice quality Senior Counsel morning coat made all the more interesting due to its original owner!