Page 30 - January1960

28 NATIONAL BUTTON BI'LLETIN January, 1960

SYMBtrLS OF THE trtrNFEDERATE STATEE|
trF AMERItrA
At the National Sho\tr in California items of wearing apparel and jewelry, each
bearing one of the symbols of the Confederacy, were displayed. These articles
included belts, butions, cuff-links, money and tie clips, earrings, charms and
brooches. The symbols represented were two-color enamel and gold, in sizes 7e"
to 2a/s"', the Great Seal of the Confederate States; two-color enamel and gold, the
Stars and Bars, ofiicial Confederate battle flag consisting of a red field and blue
cross of St. Andrew with thirbeen stars; in gilt, the Confederate States Navy but-
ton with anchor superimposed in high relief over iwo crossed cannons with
"C.S.N." below. These items were loaned to the Showcase exhibit by Mr. Morry
Luxenberg, of New York City.
Since the Confederate States will be celebrating a centennial shortly, more
and more items bearing the above symbols will be appearing on the market. We
illustrate, therefore, two of the most popular symbols employed thus far-ttre
Confederate States Naqy Button (no. 1) and the Confederate States Great Seal
(no. 2).
Since we returned from California, we have had notices of approvals from
several non-National dealers who offer for sale these newly made "C.S.N." buttons
as old items that were never put in use. We are indebted to Mr. Luxenberg for the
inJormation we present on these buttons. I{e tells us that "the buttons were
recently struck from the original 1862 dies and made by Firmin of London who
made the original buttons that were supplied to the Confederate States Navy
Officers." The backmark on this recent "C.S.N." button is "FIRMIN/LONDON."
The backmarks on two earlier "C.S.N." buttons are as follows-

the 1862 original button (outer circle) "FIRMIN & SONS/ 153
STRAND LONDON": (inner circle) " &, 13/ CONDUIT ST."
the button made after 1875 (outer circle) "FTRMIN & SONS LDl
LoNDON"; (inner circle) PATENT/ 2346."
The face die is identical on all ttrree specimens. IL is the backmark which
bears Lhe identifying clue.
THE GREAT SEAL
The permanent government of the Confederate States of America was estab-
lished aN the third session of the First congress in the spring of 1863. At this
meeting a joint resolution to establish a Seal for the Confederate States was pre-
sented. ft read "Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States of America
that the SeaI of the Confederate States shall consist of a device representing an