Great Seal Button Backmarks Help

Bigcypresshunter

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I am assembling a list of US Army Great Seal button backmarks 1902-present.. This seems to be the most complete list available anywhere. With the help of TN members, I am occasionally adding and improving upon it. So far I have over 100 different backmarks. Anyone with a Great Seal button backmark or backmark variation not listed please post the pic and Ill add it. :icon_thumright: The thread is already so long its not necessary to add anything already pictured. Thanks.

This is how it all started:



I bought 2 bags of small Great Seal of US buttons for a buck at a flea market. Can someone help me date these backmarks? I believe they are all post 1902. I cant find anything else online.

1- Top row SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY (back ungilted)
2- SCOVILL MF'G CO WATERBURY
3- Bottom CITY BUTTON WORKS - N.Y.
4- WATERBURY BUTTON CO.
 

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Bigcypresshunter

Bigcypresshunter

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There is actually a Great Seal that is pre-Civil War. Albert's OD24 with a "R&W Robinson Extra Rich" backmark. This button is pre-1848.
A pic would be cool. But all Great Seal buttons are 20th century manufactured, as far as I know.. The way I understand it, is that button companies used up old stock. It may be a rare pre WWI.
 

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HutSiteDigger

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@Rocker - Great Seals date back to 1782 but of course with different styles.. research Great Seals and you will see the difference styles there are..
 

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rockermike17368

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I have approximately 800 different examples of Great Seals. The one shown as OD24 in Albert's book closely resembles the 1902 and later styles. I have Emilo, Johnson, Albert, Binder, Tice, Mcquinn & Bazelon's books. I am well read in American uniform buttons.
 

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HutSiteDigger

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Oh ok sorry - had no idea you had such great knowledge of the subject just with your last comment i couldn't tell. (if you posted before on this "Great Seal button backmarks" sorry i have not read thru most of the pages or if i have i did not remember your handle) anyway good luck on the book, sounds interesting indeed!
 

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rockermike17368

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IMG_0924.jpg IMG_0929.jpg IMG_0926.jpg IMG_0927.jpg IMG_0930.jpg IMG_0925.jpg

Thought I'd a share a few pics from my Great Seal collection. All the buttons in the cases are different in one way or another. I also have original button dies, original cards from dealers and manufacturing companies, WWI and WWII boxes of button cards not shown. This has been almost 20 years in the building of this collection. And still growing....
 

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rockermike17368

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IMG_0932.JPG
Great Seal button dies, upper left is circa 1911, upper right circa 1902, bottom is coat and cuff for the 'cut out' officers style circa 1920-30's.
 

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Davers

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Hi All, Here is an updated list of Great Seals I'm looking for: Non-dug please....

B.B.Abrahams/Philadelphia
S.Appel & Co. (coat size)
E.A.Armstrong
Bernhard & Schrag & Co. (coat size)
Best & Co. (Any)
Brooks Brothers (any type or size)
Chapsal & Michaul/Paris
Clayton /Chicago
DeMoulin Bros. (coat size)
James C. Doran & Sons/Providence R.I.
Dusenbury & Schwab Inc./New York/229-4th Ave
Fa Ne Di Lorenzo/Firenze
Frateli Reanda/Roma
Greenwood Co./Detroit Mich
Hahn/Baltimore
Johnson /Milano (coat size)
Jennens & Co. (gilt)
D.Klein & Bros./Philadelphia
Frank J. Krupp/Washington
S&B Lederer Co./Providence R.I.
Lewis MS Co. San Antonio
W&S Lyon Co. NY
W.S.Mangre & Co./San Fransico Calif
Marshall Field /Chicago
McEnany & Scott NY Made in England
SN Meyer/Washington
B. Pasquale Co. /S.Fran.Cal. (officers button with cut out rim & eagle)
Publix Theater Corp NY
Reliable Mfg Co./Newark NJ
Alfredo Roensch (Any, and w/ applied device)
Josh Starkey (listed in Johnson's book)
State Arsenal/Harrisburg PA
T.W.&W./Paris
Tiffany & Co. (any type or size)
Travis Merchantile Co./San Antonio Tx
Walcott Mfg. Co Providence R.I.
Wender & Goldstein Brooklyn NY
J.H.Wilson/Philadelphia

As always any help is appreciated! Email is [email protected] Thanks!

Do all these backmarks listed date from the early 1900s"est"-2013 or are they pre Vietnam or Korea or even WW2 ? just wondering.
 

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rockermike17368

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I divide the 1902 (rimless & plain field) by gilt and blackend /bronze, lined field in the same manner, non-metal types such as vegetable ivory,plastic,horn,etc., officers type with cut out rim and eagle, then special types such as lockets, compasses, 1 piece and applied devices.
 

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rockermike17368

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I believe these backmarks are mostly 1930's back to 1902. GS buttons with New Jersey and Rhode Island backmarks are mostly WWI era or earlier.
 

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cudamark

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How about a photo?
 

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