BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This page provides background information on various badges and medals topics.
● information on the use of cookie batter, leather and other non-conventional badge materials: Non-conventional Badge Materials
● article on campaign photo badges: Photo badges
● Letter from a merchant to head of a Henry Clay campaign marketing campaign ribbons to the club for use at the State Convention, parades, meeting and the election: Henry Clay Merchant Letter
● an 1860 catalog advertising the restriking of early political medals: Woodward Advertisement
● a broadside advertising the restriking of 1840 William Henry Harrison medals in connection with the 1888 Benjamin Harrison campaign: 1888 Medal Advertising Broadside
COLLECTING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN MEDALS. This article introduces collecting political medals. Collecting Political Campaign Medals
HARPER'S MAGAZINE ARTICLE ON POLITICAL MEDALS. This article is a reprint of an 1896 article on political medals. Harper's Article
WASHINGTON INAUGURAL BUTTONS. This article introduces the subject of Washington inaugural buttons and discusses the state of the marketplace for these examples of material culture. Washington Inaugural Buttons
1868 CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN BADGE ADVERTISING BROADSIDE. One question that comes up is the whole issue of the manufacturing and distribution of 19th century political badges. It appears that most badges and medals were produced by private entrepreneurs for profit through sales to supporters during political campaigns. Presumably, the badges were distributed through dry goods stores and directly from the manufacturer to clubs and other organizations supporting particular candidates and parties. The attached broadside illustrates how one badge manufacturer sought to bring its badges to the marketplace. 1868 Broadside.
COLLECTOR IMPACT IN LINCOLN'S TIME. This article discusses the impact of collecting during the 1860s on the creation of political medals for the collector market. The article also briefly touches on the creation of "mules" (medals combining unrelated obverses and reverses) for the collector market and the issuance of "non-contemporary" medals. Review article: Collector Impact in Lincoln's Time. The following is a cover from a Woodward auction catalog found advertising the restriking of political medals: Woodward Advertisement. This advertisement gives the reader a sense for the framework within which early political medals were restruck for the collectors market in the 1860s. Also attached is a broadside advertising the restriking of 1840 William Henry Harrison campaign medals in connection with the 1888 campaign of Benjamin Harrison: 1888 Advertising Broadside
O'HARA PORCELAIN STUDS. Review a discussion of 1896 studs created by the O'Hara Waltham Dial Company. O'Hara Porcelain Studs.
THE ZABRISKIE LEGACY. These articles discuss the significance of the Andrew Zabriskie collection of Lincoln medals and badges (the most significant collection of Lincoln medals and badges to hit the auction block), background information regarding the "discovery" of the Zabriskie collection, and recollections regarding the Zabriskie auction experience. Review articles: The Zabriskie Legacy.