George Washington and his constituency are credited with wearing the first political buttons in 1789. These clothing-style brass buttons read “G.W…Long live the President.” Considered to be somewhat controversial, since their slogan was a spin off on the British saying “Long live the King,” they were worn with pride by the citizens of a new nation.
Fast forward to 1960 and the race for the presidency between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The most collectable button from this campaign read, “Prostitutes Vote for Kennedy or Nixon…We don’t care who gets in.” Do you think old George turned over in his grave?
For over two hundred years, candidates and causes have been promoted and disgraced by the wearing of political buttons. The first “modern election” came in 1840. It is considered modern due to the fact that it was the first time a candidate actively pursued an election to the presidency. William Harrison’s “log cabin campaign” produced hundreds of objects featuring a log cabin. The idea was to present him as a “humble log cabin livin’ frontiersman” who would understand the need of the people if elected as their president. Fact is, Harrison had never lived in a log cabin, but the image appealed to the masses and Harrison was elected.
The earliest mass-produced buttons, known as ferrotypes, were made by inserting a photographic tintype into the brass frame of a small lapel button. They made their debut during the Lincoln campaign of 1860. The first major change in the appearance of the button came in 1893 when mounted paper images covered in transparent celluloid were patented. They were first used in large quantity in the McKinley/Bryan elections in 1896 and 1900. The buttons most commonly found in collections today are celluloid examples made from 1890 through the 1940s or lithographed tin which appeared in the early 1920s.
While rarity, age, condition, historical context, and quality graphics are very important in valuing a button, controversy is most always a catalyst to rising value. In 1904, a button picturing Teddy Roosevelt having lunch with Booker T. Washington outraged a number of very vocal bigots. As a result, few were ever released. This button in today’s market is worth several hundred dollars.
Campaign buttons are often made to hit a specific segment of the voting public. The “Peace, Love, Doves and Trees” buttons from the McGovern campaign are a good example of the attempt to appeal to the youth vote. In contrast, the Nixon camp went more traditional with their “Nixon, Now More Than Ever” button in the traditional red, white, and blue.
Recent eBay sales reveal a 1924 Coolidge/Dawes Campaign Button with Hoag Eagle Pin for $5,600 and a George Washington Inaugural pin at $5,200 on the top end of the value scale. Mid-range collectables included a 1992 “Hillary Clinton for First Lady” pin for $1,000 and an “Abraham Lincoln for President” ferrotype brass button for $895. For those of you just beginning your collection and wanting to give it a kick start, you will find lots of 40-50 pins being offered in the $125-$150 range. The lots offer you a way to jump-start your collection.
Whatever you political preference, if Hillary gets the nod you might want to scarf up a couple of pins with her likeness. Should she become the first female presidential contender, those buttons are certain to become collectible.
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-253-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
