A group of three (3) rare 18th-century buttons related to George Washington, including two (2) inaugural buttons and one (1) memorial button. Items include: 

1. Washington inaugural “Eagle & Star” brass button. Flat, 1-piece. Loop shank detached but present. Circa 1789. Diam. 34mm. Albert WI 12D.

Eagle displayed with heraldic estoile with alternate wavy rays above, within a narrow border. Excavated, part of the left rim is lacking. Several variations, differentiated by the number of marks on the border (between 49 & 72), were manufactured. Though a complete count is impossible, an extrapolation suggests there were originally 72 marks. 

2. Washington Inaugural "Linked States" Button. 1-piece impressed flat pewter. Circa 1789. Diam. 32mm. Albert WI 4A. 

With script “GW” monogram at center with the legend “LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT” encircled by each of the 13 states represented in script with linked borders. All portions of the design are impressed except the raised legend. 

3. Washington memorial “Urn” button. 1-piece impressed flat button. Circa late 1799-1800. Diam. 24mm. 

Very scarce button manufactured at the time of Washington’s death in late 1799. Similar to the inaugural buttons, the face features a detailed memorial urn with an impressed border. We have seen other variations, mostly in the cuff button size. Not in Albert. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate]  [Relics, Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe]