Button ID

[ClutchCargo69]

I am new to this Forum, I need help identifying this button I recently found. It is 3/4 of a inch in diameter. It has the craned neck eagle with the word Excelsior above the eagle. On the back it says Best Quality with the initials L. W. I did see a similar button which was NY militia from around 1840, but it had the word Excelsior below the Eagle. Any help with ID of the button and maker is appreciated.

 

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[PBK]

Yep... New York Militia. This was the next series after the ones with the state motto beneath the eagle, rather than above it as on yours.

 

[ClutchCargo69]

Thank You. I tried to post a pictur, but, kept getting it rejected. So is 1840's a good guess, any idea on the maker and if it is a rare button. Thanks again!

 

[PBK]

I do need a photo to date the button. The first motto-above series was in use c. 1815-30; the next, still with the motto above, c. 1830-65.

 

[PBK]

Okay, Clutch, here ya go...

(By the way, welcome to TNet. It's great to have you with us!)

​

1815-30 1830-65​

 

[ClutchCargo69]

Thank you very much! It is definitely the 1815 - 1830 variety. Any ideas as to who the maker L.W. is? Any ideas as to the rarity? I've got to get the posting of pictures down. Thanks again!

 

[PBK]

Any chance that the "LW" might actually be "L&T"? That would stand for Lewis & Tomes, a major button firm based in Birmingham, England and New York City. They made many of the New York buttons of this pattern.

 

[ClutchCargo69]

Looking at the back again, the initials are L. V. W, definetly a W, not a T.
Thanks!

 

[PBK]

In his book Uniform Buttons of the United States, 1776-1865, Warren K. Tice lists a New York Militia button backmark of "BEST QUALITY * / L. V. & W."

I would guess that your button's "L. V. W." backmark is a variant used by the same firm.

Tice does not identify them further but does say, "British manufacturers produced these...buttons between 1815 and 1830."

 

[ClutchCargo69]

PBK...this helps a great deal. Definetly L.V. & W.. I found this in CT along with another button and a really worn 1772 Spanish 1 Reale. I took the picture with my digital camera, downloaded it to my computer, then attached. When I tried to Post it came back with a error message. I didn't think just 1 picture would be to big. Thanks again!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Just open up the photo in a photo editing program...Windows should have one. Then crop the photo to the right size (always crop first--it gives you maximum photo quality for the size) then resize it. Check it before you post it by right clicking on the photo on your computer and making sure under "properties" it is under 256 KB.

Excellent button find!

Regards,

Buckleboy

 

[PBK]

Re: Button ID - "L. V. & W." backmark

As indicated in an earlier post, Tice attributes the "L. V. & W" backmark as British, but give no further details concerning it in either his uniform buttons book or backmarks book.

Nor is it listed in any other backmark references such as Bazelon & McGuinn's.

However, research leads me to believe that this is very likely the mark of Ledsam, Vale & Wheeler, an early 19th century Birmingham, England firm better known as silversmiths than buttonmakers.

In William West's 1830 Directory of Warwickshire Birmingham section they were listed as follows:

Ledsam, Vale & Wheeler, manufacturers of jewellery gold silver gilt & black fancy articles &c.,59,Newhall-st

 

[ClutchCargo69]

Thank you PBK and Buckleboy, great information. Do any of your sources list a value for the button?

 

[PBK]

I just asked a friend who's a well-known buttons dealer— and also a major contributor to Tice's uniform buttons book— and he says that if it's in good shape, with the shank/eye still on the back, it's probably worth at least $100, maybe $150.

 

[ClutchCargo69]

PBK, that is great info. This doesn't have the eye or the shank, but the rest is in good condition....other than the fact that it is dug. Maybe the fact that it is not a major button maker means that it is a rare one. Great to know.....this is a vey informative forum. I plan on being a part of it in the future. Thanks again!