USE OF NON-TRADITIONAL MATERIALS FOR CAMPAIGN BADGES

 

   Most pre-1896 campaign badges were made from traditional materials.  Medals were made out of white metal, copper, brass, lead, nickel, silver and beginning in the 1890's aluminum.  Solid celluloid badges were introduced as early as 1876 and took over when the process for stretching celluloid over metal was introduced in the 1890's.   Other less conventional materials were also used for badges. 

    In a letter written in the 1870s, Andrew Zabrskie, a pioneer collector of Lincoln medals, complained about the composition of additional Lincoln badges added to his "comprehensive" list"  "In the January issue of the Journal appears a communication from H.W.H, in which my 'Catalogue of Lincoln Medals' is the subject of considerable criticism. . . He mentions as new varieties in metals some half-dozen medals in bronze, which I had already catalogued as copper.  All collectors know that these pieces are identical.  Mr. H.W.H. proceeds to swell farther his list by placing in the category of medals sundry pieces made from terra cotta, rubber, green clay, & c.  These articles have no right to the title of medals, and I purposely excluded all such from my catalogue.  I have a Lincoln piece made from soap, which has a much right in the list as the articles just mentioned!"

    Non-traditional materials used in medals pictured below include cookie batter, composition (plastic-like material), wood, leather, paper and gold.  Home

 

.

Cookie batter - James Garfield 1880