Eagle Flat Button With British Backmark, Help Please!

[FoxHound0985]

Hello All,

I found this flat button at an old colonial house site today. I thought it was just a regular "London" marked flat button until I cleaned it and saw the eagle stamped into the back. I have never seen a button of this age that has a British Mark and a US Eagle. Does anyone know why this British button has an eagle on the back of it? The mark reads ""IMPERIAL LONDON STANDd." Is this a military button? If so, how old is it and why is it marked London. I thought we were at war with them at that time. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and HH!

Fox

 

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[ivan salis]

war of 1812 -- flat buttons were popular from about early 1800 to 1830 -- so both before and after the war the british made buttons for american use ( even for the american military!!!)-- during the war of 1812 the british did not make buttons for the USA of course , causing a grave shortage --- thus the americans learned a valubile lesson -- and started making their own buttons -- note the "waterbury" button company started in 1812.

 

[FoxHound0985]

Thanks for the info Ivan! I took a closer look at the button and found that there is an anchor underneith one of the wings. So, this was a button made my Great Britian and "counterstamped" by the american military? Or was it made by the British specifically for the Americans for the War of 1812? Thanks again and HH!

Fox

 

[ivan salis]

during the war of 1812 no british buttons were made for american use ---(note that the waterbury button company started up during the war of 1812 due to the shortage of buttons ----up till that time most of the buttons used in america were british made --- the war showed that it was foolish to depend on an "outside" country for so vital of a item.) however both before and after the war of 1812 the british made buttons for american use. and eagles were a popular image used on them---- often the anchor "mark" were a form of quality mark or image depending on size and shape and type and location.