If you’re new to Civil War button collecting and anything like me, you’re probably diving in headfirst! That means spending hours scouring eBay, visiting websites like civilwarbuttons.com, and traveling to relic and military antiques shows in search of hidden treasures. But with so many Civil War buttons out there, how do you know which ones to focus on?
If you haven’t chosen a specific button focus yet, here are three tips to help guide your search:
Southern state and Confederate government buttons are among the most desirable. Generally, Confederate and southern state uniform buttons tend to be highly sought after by collectors due to their rarity and historical significance. Even if you're a yankee, it’s never a bad idea to invest in these!
Pay close attention to backmarks. A button’s face tells part of the story, but the backmark can make all the difference in rarity and value. For example, federal government and northern state buttons with southern manufacturer backmarks are particularly scarce and make excellent additions to any collection. A few examples of southern backmarks that can be found on federal government or northern state buttons include Canfield Brothers (Baltimore, MD), Mitchell & Tyler (Richmond, VA), E. Halfmann (Montgomery, AL).
Double-stamped backmarks are like “error cards” to sports card collecting. Just as misprinted baseball cards can be worth a fortune, buttons with double-stamped backmarks hold a special appeal. These manufacturing anomalies occur when a button is struck twice with a backmark, creating a distinctive variation. Collectors prize them for their uniqueness and scarcity.
Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning your collection, keeping these tips in mind will help you make informed decisions and uncover valuable pieces.
— Entry by Heith Hart, avid button collector specializing in Civil War era Maryland buttons and buttons with Canfield Brothers backmarks.