What is the best button identification book?????

[pjroo33]

I've heard a lot of people reference Albert's button book. I'm wondering what book everyone would recommend.

 

[vayank54]

There are 2 good books Albert's and Tice's. Tices is strictly the earlier buttons up to the civil war while Albert's cover buttons past the civil war. Which is best is probably a matter of opinion. I've been using Albert's in about 1970 so it is the one I go to first.
There is another book worth investing in. It is McQuinn's & Bazelon's American Military Button Makers And Dealers; Their Backmarks & Dates. This book is the best on backmarks.

 

[Iron Patch]

It takes a small collection of them to cover the bases well. You have to decide what your main interest is and go from there. Alberts is good because it's American, which is of course what you mainly find, and it also covers different periods which is cool too... however .... It's mostly militarily based and there's lots of interesting nonmilitary buttons out there to be found too. It's much the same as coins, no one book will do it all.

 

[vayank54]

Yep I have to agree with Iron Patch. I was thinking military and uniform buttons but there are a lot of other types of buttons to find as well.