need help with military button

[pigeonman]

found this button recently but can't find any info.has sam'l starkey london on back.when was it made?iv'e never heard of this maker.

 

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[FutureProspect784]

pigeonman,

That's a nice find. From what I can see in the picture you posted, it looks as if the eagle is holding an anchor in it's talons, thus indicating, to me anyway, a naval origin of some sort. Buttons aren't my area of expertise, so I can't offer up any information on that maker.

 

[PBK]

It's a U.S. Navy uniform button from the latter half of the 1800's. There is some disagreement as to whether it dates from the Civil War period or is slightly postwar.

 

[fortbball9]

IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ONE IN ALBERT'S BUTTON BOOK ON PAGE 102 NUMBER 118 BUT THE BACK MARK I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF,IT'S NOT EVEN LISTED IN THE REFERENCE OF BACK MARKS.(BUTTON # NA 118)

fortbball9

 

[PBK]

This maker/backmark is listed in both McGuinn & Bazelon's Military Button Makers and Dealers, Their Backmarks & Dates, and Tice's Dating Buttons. Nayler's Military Button Manufacturers from the London Directories, 1800-1899 also lists various Starkey backmarks, although none specifically for Samuel Starkey.