Political
Set of Eight Campaign Buttons for Caleb Strong (1745-1819) to be Massachusetts Governor "Strong Forever, Old Massachusetts"
c. 1812 Federal to War of 1812 Era, Eight Political "Strong Forever, Old Massachusetts" Gubernatorial Campaign Buttons for Founding Father and successfully elected Massachusetts Governor Caleb Strong, Plus, lot includes a Second Set of Silvered "W. Wallis Extra-Treble" Buttons, New.
Set of (8) 22 mm Gold-Gilt Brass Flat, One-piece Waistcoat Buttons attached to a 4" x 2.5" original period paper-covered card. Obverse face is smooth and plain. Reverse with the outer ring reading: "Strong Forever" with 4 Six-Pointed Stars set between the words. Its inner reverse side ring reads: "Old Massachusetts" with 1 Six-Pointed Star between the words. Tice MS296 (where listed as 20 mm); Note - These Buttons are not listed in Albert. Provenance: Attributed to a "Captain Lemon" of Massachusetts (no further information provided). Rare.
Also Includes: A Second Set of (11) 18 mm, One-piece Silver Metal Flat Vest Buttons with 4" x 3" on their original period paper-covered card (partially cut where one button was removed at upper right). Each Button's Reverse side reads: "W. Wallis Extra-Treble". Housed together with the "Strong Forever, Old Massachusetts" Campaign Buttons in a 8.25" x 12.25" Ryker mount, along with an attribution tag. Both sets of Buttons sold together as one lot. (19 items)
Caleb Strong (1745-1819) was a Founding Father and Federalist Governor of Massachusetts from 1800 to 1807 and for yet time again from 1812 to 1816.
These buttons, date from one of his Gubernatorial Campaigns, possibly his return to politics in 1812, when he ran on an Anti-War of 1912 platform. During his tenure, he refused to send Massachusetts militias to fight "Mr. Madison's War", believing that the federal government was trampling State's and individual rights.