Slater's Americana Auctions Political Campaign Memorabilia

Hoover and Curtis 1928 jugate button, $5,800.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - On September 25 Slater's Americana conducted its 25th auction of vintage political campaign memorabilia with sales totaling more than $125,000 for some 700 lots. This particular sale focused mainly on "smalls" such as buttons, ribbons, medals, badges, etc.

The priciest item was a rare variety of Hoover and Curtis button from 1928, which fetched more than $5,800. This "jugate" button (featuring portraits of both presidential and vice presidential candidtates) was manufactured in limited numbers for use only in "Windham County" (state unknown) and fewer than five examples are believed to have survived.

"Linked States" George Washington inaugural button, $2,000.

Among early items, a George Washington inaugural button brought more than $2,000 even with a repaired shank. A rare extremely large-size 1860 Lincoln ferrotype, featuring tintype portraits of Abe and running mate Hannibal Hamlin on opposite sides, commanded $5,800 as well. A colorful Henry Clay pocket stogie case with his portrait and "candidate for 1844" sold for $3,500.

"On the whole, it was another very successful auction," said Slater's Americana Director Tom Slater. "The political item market has been booming since the late 1990s and truly scarce and unusual items continue to sell at record levels. The last example of the Windham County Hoover button we handled was in 1997. At that time it failed to reach its reserve price of $3,000 and was subsequently sold privately for $2,800.