Button backmark??

[kuger]

Says "non plus ultra"The "s",appears to be backwards?I can not find any thing on this button!

 

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I don't have this one. I do have a dozen or so 4-holed buttons that say "NE PLUS ULTRA" that date from the late 1800's or early 1900's. Your button is a 2- piece which doesn't mean it is really that old, probably 100 years at least, maybe a bit older. Anything on the front?
Dave.

 

[kuger]

I wish I had a pic after he cleaned it but this button is beautiful,%90 of the gold gilt!We were hunting a site that most of the stuff was 1850-1860.

 

[Montana Jim]

As you may know - this is a "quality mark" and not a "back mark" so to speak. I do not know who may have been the actual "maker" of the button.

The "quality mark" generally cannot be attributed to any one button maker but was a popular way to grade buttons by both British and American button makers from 1790s through the early to mid 1800s sometime.

I agree with Muddyhandz that this one around 100 years old based on construction.

Someone with a button book may be able to help a little more.

Quality Marks like "double gilt", "extra orange", "extra rich", etc. simply indicate that it's a super sexy and heavily gilt-ed button... it's a sales pitch more than anything.

Your button, I believe, is supposed to say: "non * plus * ultra" [ne (non) plus ultra] which in Latin/Greek means: Nothing further; the uttermost point; perfection... It's a indicator of quality! I think however the maker screwed something up and replaced the "S" with a "5" and made some error buttons.

Tell yer buddy congrats... I think it's a beauty.

 

[BuckleBoy]

1. A great find. (I'm sure it's gorgeous with the gilding )

2. Some great information from Jim.


Best Wishes to both of you for the Holidays.



-Buckles

 

[kuger]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you as well!!

 

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Some good info from Jim. I just wanted to say that on the four-holed buttons that I have, all of the "NE PLUS ULTRA" have a backward "S" as well. They were intentionally made that way for what reason I do not know.
Dave.

 

[Montana Jim]

I think the backward "S" m,ight be a British thing... can anyone out there confirm this?

I know they did that on some coins too... 1700 era coins.