Button ID

[artyfacts]

Dug this 7/8, Lewis & Tomes Extra Rich button today. I could not find a match. Eagle facing left writing underneath. Six or seven letters. The first letter looks like a C. I will try to get a close up tomorrow in the sun. Art

[artyfacts]

Pic.

[fyrffytr1]

Lewis & Tomes, Birmingham, England & NYC. Edward Lewis and Francis Tomes were merchants and importers of jewelry and buttons. The buttons were made in England where Lewis was a merchant, 1816-1833. The New York firm dated 1819-1826 as Lewis & tomes but continued as Tomes and other names until their bankruptcy in1878. No buttons are believed to be manufactured for the firm after 1830.
I think your button is listed in Albert's as NY-10A: New York Militia : 1-piece button with border and rope edging The letters spell out Excelsior.

[artyfacts]

Thanks fyrffytr1, that is a match. A NY-10A: New York Militia button. Thanks for the quick ID. Arty

[fyrffytr1]

You're welcome. Glad I was able to help. Oh yeah, nice find. I would rather find an old button than a pocketful of clad!