Georgia seal button

Bmerck

Jr. Member
Feb 22, 2019
78
132
Georgia
Primary Interest:
Other

Attachments

  • IMG_20180928_002937.jpg
    IMG_20180928_002937.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 159
  • IMG_20180928_024554.jpg
    IMG_20180928_024554.jpg
    452.6 KB · Views: 95
  • IMG_20180928_003029.jpg
    IMG_20180928_003029.jpg
    755.2 KB · Views: 148
That’s a good one. I’m not sure what it is, but given the 2 piece design should be 1860s or just after
 

Upvote 0
I think it’s post war but, I could be wrong. It won’t be the first time! You need to PM message either fyrffytr1 or the cannonballguy. One of those two could tell you for sure. If it’s civil war, I think you got yourself a really nice button. Good luck.
 

Upvote 0
Superior Quality backmark was used by Steele and Johnson from the 1850s-60s. But, it was also found on Waterbury buttons dating from 1875-1935. I think it is the latter and dates to the 20th century. Can you make out any lettering in the banner.
 

Upvote 0
Bmerck,
Thats a cool button.
Congrats on the find.

and​ Welcome to TreasureNet
 

Upvote 0
Beautiful Georgia State Seal button. War period or not, it's a Keeper.
 

Upvote 0
I'm thinking post war as well. The banner lettering seems to worn off to easy? Another note. The only one I have seen with the vertical back lines has water /waves at the bottom. Look here at the 1855-65 ones.

The Treasure Depot Button Project
 

Upvote 0
(Sigh)
Doesn't anybody reading this thread own a copy of the button picture-book by Alphaeus H. Albert titled "Record Of American Uniform And Historical Buttons"?

Your specific version of GA Seal button (which by the way is a "flat" 2-piece brass button) is shown in the Albert button-book as GA-17B. The only known specimens of it which have a name in the backmark say "Pettibone Bros. Mfg. Co." The company was in business under that name from about 1880 until it closed in 1975. However, Pettibone did not manufacture any buttons... they were made by the Waterbury Button Company. Your 2-piece (not 3-piece) GA Seal button is not shown in the Waterbury Button Co.'s illustrated catalog from 1900. So, it must have been made sometime later in the 20th Century.
You can view every page of that catalog in the .pdf file here:
https://archive.org/details/militaryallmetal00wate/page/10
Waterbury's 3-piece ("Staff") version of your button is shown on page 10 of the 1900 catalog.

There was no civil war era (or earlier) "FLAT" TWO-PIECE Georgia State Seal button which had a "lined background" and TWO curls of the ribbon on the columns. (That is why it is not shown among all the Georgia Seal civil war buttons at the Treasure Depot Button Project website.)

More evidence that your button is from the 20th Century:
Your button's backmark, saying "Superior Quality", is written in what is called plain block lettering. Very few button backmarks used plain block lettering until the 1890s... and that lettering-style became the "used-everywhere" standard lettering as the calendar clicked over into the 1900s.

Lastly... your exact same "flat 2-piece" GA State Seal button (except for the backmark) is still being made and sold by the Waterbury Button Company today. You can order one from the following page of the WBC's online catalog, here:
https://waterburybutton.com/product-detail/georgia-state-seal-30
 

Last edited:
Upvote 0
Doesn't anybody reading this thread own a copy of the button picture-book by Alphaeus H. Albert titled "Record Of American Uniform And Historical Buttons"?

Never knew that was available online. Thanks
 

Upvote 0

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top