Up for sale is an authentic, original William McKinley celluloid pinback button from the late 1890s. What makes this particular button special is its likely provenance: it was acquired in connection with the welcome home reunion of the 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment following their service in the Spanish-American War/Philippine-American War. President McKinley traveled to Minneapolis on October 12, 1899, specifically to review and welcome home these returning troops, making this a fantastic crossover piece of both presidential and military history.
Design & Details
Front: Features a classic, sharp portrait of President William McKinley surrounded by a vibrant red, white, and blue stars-and-stripes patriotic border.
Back: Retains its original back paper insert, which is highly legible. It reads: \"J. FLOERSHEIM, KUNSTADTER & CO CHICAGO, ILL.\" along with the famous Whitehead & Hoag patent dates: \"W. & H. CO. PAT. JULY 17, 1894, APRIL 14, 1896\".
Size: Measures approximately 7/8\" in diameter.
Hardware: Original wire pinback is present and intact.
Historical SignificanceThe 1896 McKinley campaign is famous among political collectors as the very first presidential election to utilize celluloid pinback buttons on a mass scale, thanks to the Whitehead & Hoag patent listed on the back of this exact pin. This button represents the dawn of modern political campaign memorabilia. Coupled with its connection to the 13th Minnesota\'s return in 1899, it is a truly unique piece of late-19th-century Americana.
Feel free to reach out with any questions prior to purchase!
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