P.O.D Post Office Department Button/Horstmann & Bros.Co. Phil/Unlisted?

[Stu Pedasso]

P.O.D Post Office Department Button/Horstmann & Bros.Co. Phil/Unlisted?

Hello,

A friend of mine found this button while bottle digging. I checked Albert's but did not see this variant. The back reads "Horstmann & Bros.Co. Phil". The book lists this backmark as 1859-63. Is it an unlisted variant. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Stu

 

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[Montana Jim]

Re: P.O.D Post Office Department Button/Horstmann & Bros.Co. Phil/Unlisted?

This from the below listed site:

Postmaster General Alexander W. Randall's order of
October 31, 1868, describing the first official uniform for
letter carriers, specified that the uniform coat have "five
brass buttons with the design of the seal of this
Department," that the vest have "seven oval brass
buttons (vest size) with the letters P.O. on the face," and
that the cap have "small size buttons at the sides of the
same material and design, as those of the vest . . ."
Centered in the middle of the coat button was a likeness
of a post rider, a mounted carrier galloping at speed with
mailbags on horseback. In 1873, regulations specified
that the initials "P.O.D." (for Post Office Department)
appear under the rider. Some versions of the button
also had the initials "U.S.A." along the top. The vest and
cap buttons were smaller and simply had the letters
"P.O." raised in the center.

http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/carrbuttons05.pdf

Looks like your's is a design from post 1873... While your back mark (HORSTMANN BROS & CO. / PHILA) dates 1859-1863 - it may be that old backs were used with newer button tops.