RESOURCES & LINKS
ORGANIZATIONS:
American Political Items Collectors (APIC) -- is the national organization for collectors of political memorabilia. The APIC has many members interested in 19th political campaign memorabilia and publishes a quarterly magazine The Keynoter which focuses on campaigns and campaign memorabilia. Members also receive the monthly political memorabilia newspaper, The Political Bandwagon. The APIC sponsors a number of regional shows each year and an annual national show. Attendance at these shows provides networking opportunities for those interested in political badges and medals and an opportunity to buy or sell political memorabilia. Membership information can be obtained via the APIC Website.
WEBSITES:
APIC Website -- website for American Political Items Collector, the national political memorabilia collector's organization.
George Washington Inaugural Button Website -- website devoted to George Washington inaugural buttons and the best place to start for a serious study of that material. The website focuses on material from the Harold Cobb collection which was recently auctioned by Stack's. A revised version version of Harold Cobb's early work on Washington buttons is included with updated material and format (including pictures of key buttons).
Rail Splitter Website -- website of The Rail Splitter Magazine for collectors of Lincolniana and related items.
Rich Harzog Website -- Rich Harzog's website offers a comprehensive listing of political memorabilia websites.
Political Graveyard -- valuable website for information about political candidates and campaigns.
Napoleonic Medals Website -- Website focusing on Napoleonic medals and related items. Interesting for political campaign memorabilia collectors as it serves as a model for a well designed website devoted to a similar subject matter.
PERIODICALS:
The Political Bandwagon is a monthly newspaper for political memorabilia collectors. The magazine includes an APIC page and will generally keep you up to date on upcoming APIC shows and political memorabilia auctions. This magazine is included with APIC membership. Subscription information: Jeannine Coup, P. O. Box 348, Leola, PA 17540.
The Keynoter is a quarterly magazine on political campaigns and memorabilia published by the APIC. This magazine is included with APIC membership.
The Rail Splitter is a quarterly magazine published by APIC members specializing in Lincolniana. This publication addresses collecting and the marketplace in a thoughtful way and is highly recommended, although the focus is more on paper items than badges and medals. The Rail Splitter also does an excellent job of surveying the current marketplace for Lincolniana and related items. The Rail Splitter conducts an annual auction of Lincolniana and related items. Subscription information at P. O. Box 275, New York, N.Y. 10044 or splitter@interport.net. Website at www.railsplitter.com.
BOOKS:
American Political Badges and Medalets 1789-1892 by Edmund B. Sullivan (1981) is the leading catalog of (and an absolute necessity for collectors/students of) pre-1896 political badges and medals. This book is an update of the DeWitt book listed below. The book is out-of-print, but can usually be found through used book dealers for $75 to $100.
A Century of Campaign Button 1789-1889 by J. Doyle DeWitt (1959) is the original catalog of political medals and badges. The photographs in this book are better than the reprinted version in the Sullivan book. Bibliography lists several key 19th century articles on political medal. Available through used book dealers for $75 to $150.
Political Buttons: Book III, 1789-1916 by Ted Hake (1978) is a useful catalog of political memorabilia and includes many photographs of medals and badges, some of which are not included in the Sullivan book. The price guides are out-of-date and sometimes fail to provide accurate relative values for items, as some memorabilia areas (e.g., flags) have outstripped others.
Bryan Money by Fred Schorenstein (2001) is the comprehensive book on Bryan Money. Available through various sources.
Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons by Alphaeus H. Albert (1976). This book covers Washington inaugural buttons and includes a useful rarity guide. The reprint of this book is available through book dealers.
Tippecanoe and Trinkets Too; The Material Culture of American Presidential Campaigns, 1828-1984 by Roger A. Fisher (1988). A scholarly treatise on the use of political memorabilia in campaigns. A must if you are interested in understanding the history and use of political medals and badges.
Running for President; The Candidates and Their Images 1789-1896, edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1994). Well written essays about each of the political campaigns and stunning photos of political memorabilia from the David Frent collection. Recommended. Can generally be found for $75 to $100 through book dealers.
Washington Historical Buttons by Alphaeus H. Albert (1949) is the leading treatise/catalog of Washington inaugural buttons. If you are serious about Washington inaugural buttons, you will need this book. The book has been out-of-print for 50 years but can be found through used book dealers.
Zabriskie Collection Catalog published by Sotheby's for its June 25 & 26, 1999 auction is a valuable resource for the serious collection of Lincoln badges and medals. This catalog includes the best grouping of Lincoln items to be sold publicly -- Zabriskie's collection dates back to Lincoln's 1864 campaign.
The Charles McSorley Collection Catalogs, Volumes One (November 15, 1997) and Two (July 10, 1998) by Presidential Coin & Antique Company. The Charlie McSorley collection was the best collection of political medals to hit the market during the 20th century. Many early and rare medals are represented in the collection. McSorley auction catalogs are sometimes available through various secondary sources. Joe Levine's auction catalogs generally provide excellent background information about the campaign medals and badges being auction. Focus of Presidential auctions is on medals.
The President's Medal 1789 - 1977 by Neil MacNeil (1977) provides good coverage of 19th century inaugural medals.
Guide to Presidential Campaign Collectibles by Ted Hake (1992) is a paperback book that provides some useful introductory background information about political badges and medals. The price guide information in the book is out-of-date. This book can be found through new and used book dealers.