Circa 1789 Washington Inaugural Button. The Sunburst “Salient” Pattern. Cobb-7a, Albert WI-5B, DeWitt-GW 1789-17, Baker-1007. Brass. Fine.

31.3 mm. Original shank intact. Dark and moderately pitted, the marks of an obvious ground find, but as noted, a missing shank is thankfully not to blame. Despite the roughness, the details of the design are quite clear, with script GW at center, LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT in an inset band around, all surrounded by 24 "pyramidal flames" radiating outward, as this motif has been labeled. Traces of lighter olive are still seen on some of the higher points, probably from handling this piece has received since it was recovered from the earth, whenever that might have been. It was in the J. Harold Cobb Collection, and is the button featured on his well-known plate. It was also plated in the 1966 Political Campaign and Commemorative Buttons, by Alphaeus H. Albert. According to the 2005 revision of J. Harold Cobb's original reference, George Washington Inaugural Buttons & Medalets 1789 & 1793, by Kirk Mitchell, only two examples of this button were known until September 1962, when this one was discovered in a Connecticut estate. Both the original two had 23 pyramidal flames around the central motif, making this a new discovery and unique at the time. As of the 2005 revision, only one was still accounted for. Since that time, other examples of this type have surfaced including at least one with 27 radial flames, and another with 29. We have not seen another offered with this obverse variation. An extremely rare type, in any case. Cobb's tag remains on the reverse.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex the Estate of R.I. Bannister, Old Saybrook, Connecticut in 1962; Peter Shurto; the J. Harold Cobb Collection; our (Stack's) January 2003 Americana Sale, lot 1337; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.