Page 33 - December2001

287
December 2001

Uniform Buttons of the
United States Post Office Department
,+ Discqssion

Bv [rirgil D. trl'iggins
The classification. descriptiot-t' and ilh"rstration of U.S. Post Office
Departrnent buttons is u,ell presented in Albert's book "Record of American
unifbrm and Historical Buttons." This article is intended to discuss and expand
this infornrartion not change it"
-
The Post Office Department Seal \\ras authorized by Postmaster General
Amos Kenclall in I 837. The design \\ras to be a "Post horse in speed rn'ith rnail
bag ancl ricler". Amos Kenclall served as Postmaster General in both of the admin-
istrlatic-rns of Andreu, Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He made a tortune by
investing in Morse's telegraph patents.
A misconception exists in the mind of many people about the Post Horse and
Ricler symbol of the Post OfTice Depar-tment. This symbol existed for a long time,
but they assume it to be the syrnbol of the Pony Express, rvhich actually was a
short time contractor for the Post Office Depafinrent. The Pony Express existed
fiornApril 3. 1860 to October 24,, 1861. Ironically. the demise of the Pony Express
carne abogt through the completion of the coast to coast telegraph system.

The Albert S1'stem of U.S. Post Office Department Button Classification
The U.S. Post Office Department buttons were not used as uniform buttons
until early 1860's. The first knou,n buttons \\rere coat and cuff buttons with the
backmark of F.F. Hassarn of Boston. He u,as listed in Boston as a cutler during
this period in the firm of Kingman and Hassam. Hassam's backmark is known on
coat and cuff Post Office, Massachusetts, Rhode Island" and Nern'York buttons
(see McGuinn & Bazelon 1996, p. 44). Hassam and
his brother are listed as cutlers during the Civil War-
but u,e do not knor,l' if he \\'as still in the uniform
making business during the C'ir,'il \\tar, but obr"iotts-
ly he made uniforms later.
FD60 A tll'o piece button r'r,'ith border. this button
has the Post OfTice Department seal with U.S.A.
above and P.O.D. belou,' on a lined field. See Albert
fbr an illustration. This backmark and subsequent
backmarks are listed alphabetically.
A. *** F.F. Hassam *** Boston (Darrell Ff)irCA
Dillenbeck coll .). ,4uthrn"i note; Postal records
indicate that unifbrms were not authorized until
Julv 27, I 86ta.
FD 61 A U.S. Post Office Department Staff button with the seal and U.S.A.
above, and P.O.D. belour They are separirted by a scroll, all on a lined field. The