Maybe one of a kinder kind of day...

artyfacts · Nov 9, 2011

Hit my standby fields today and last week and came away with two unique buttons. I posted one of the buttons on, What Is It, and received a positive ID thanks to Bigcypress. I do not know how he found this one but he did. The button with the mermaids is a livery button from the Cape May Hotel in Cape May NJ. I had no idea that mermaids signified livery, thanks IP. The maker, Jacob Reeds and Son, made this type of button starting in the year 1880. The nice pictured sample is from the Waterbury Button Collection. http://www.waterburybutton.com/cart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=20139 I do not know if another example of this button has been found. The other odd button is from a similar poem titled by two different authors somewhere in the beginning of the 19th century and also a song title from the 19th century all entitled, Forget Thee No Never. The odd thing is the writing is backwards, better to read it in a mirror I would think. The other button with the two holes is what I believe to be a blowhole button with some more flatties. Another, Swifts Golden West button along with another 1909 wheatie without the S. And I know what the S stands for, the same thing I said when I looked under the date and it wasn't there. It feels good to be full blast again... Arty

Brian C. · Nov 9, 2011

Interesting finds, it is always a pleasure to find early items like yours, nice finds. HH

Hunthicks · Nov 9, 2011

I like unique finds like that, awesome! :icon_thumright:

CoilFisher · Nov 9, 2011

Very cool finds. Would like to see more info on that reverse writing button.

Roland58 · Nov 9, 2011

I would guess that the button with the reverse writing may have been used on a wax seal.....it could happen. :icon_thumleft:

(listen carefully and you can hear an echo)

ANTIQUARIAN · Nov 9, 2011

Great finds there Art! :hello2:

I wonder if the 'reverse writing button' might've been used as a wax letter seal? :icon_scratch:

Dave

SouthJerseyJim · Nov 9, 2011

Man Arty you've been tearing that field up! Those buttons are awesome especially the backwards one. Ive never seen one like that. Think you might have something special there! That place has a lot of history. Blowhole buttons dates mid to late 18th century. NICE :headbang: