Exceptional gold plated (wash) Native Sons of the Golden West breast badge with red and blue enamel, as a banner hanging from a pick and shovel cross bar. California golden bear on shovel blade and in banner. No engraving on reverse. "California Parlor No. 1" at top, "N.S./G.W." at bottom. These badges are from the first and founding parlor, San Francisco, Parlor #1, and as such were usually owned be the "who's who" of California pioneers, though these men all came to California after (and because of) the 1848 Gold Rush, as opposed to the California Pioneers, who were all in California prior to the Gold Rush.These badges are extremely rare, and come in two forms (unknown to me until now-fh): red banner top with blue background for the California bear, and the opposite, a blue banner top with red background for the California bear. This piece is the blue banner-top enamel background. This specimen shows no wear on the prominent parts. It is a piece well cared for by its owner. Remarkable "mint" condition. Overall size, 5.5" long, 2.5" wide. Comes with original envelope. San Francisco California