Page 24 - July2011

130 THE NATIONAL 'BuTTon BULLETIN July 201 1

REFERENCES
1. National Button Bulletin, January 1952, pp. 34-37.
2. Rides on Railways. Samuel Sydney Phillimore. London 1851.
3. Tally Hoes from the Steamboat Bertrand. Ronald R. Switzer. Just Buttons, Jan 1972, p. 417.
Button images from the collection of Elizabeth Hughes

Sporting Buttons from a Classification Perspective
The purpose of classification is to "sort" our buttons into a useful system of
organization. Materials and pictorials separate easily; however, Sporting buttons,
classified as Usage, may be more elusive. The Blue Book on page 64 offers basic
concepts for Sporting, mostly based on theme. As stated in the article, they often
came in sets, and were originally used on gentlemen's (and perhaps ladies') hunt
coats. Class 25-10 also includes versions of the genre with themes other than
the hunt. The variety of materials, illustrated here in sets, broadens our scope
of "early"sporting buttons. Most collectors are fortunate if they own a single
example and may not be aware it was part of a set. Two Div IX awards for the
upcoming National Convention are written for Sporting buttons. Award #6 is
the John Whiteford Memorial Presentation award. Award #198 specifies "target"
sporting buttons. (More information on target buttons will be forthcoming in
Part 2 on this topic.) It will be interesting to see what emerges at the show. To aid
both competitors and judges, the Classification Committee recommends, when
writing Usage class awards, specify desired parameters.