Description: The bottom-right large button with a single ring around it, 22mm in size, is identical to the one shown in Don Troiani's book, "Military Buttons of the American Revolution", published with Mike O'Donnell's help in 2001 (Thomas Publications). I contributed 1/3 or more of the French buttons for that book with Mike O'Donnell doing the photography. I'm listed in the front of the book as "William Brown". Since then I have bought the Rev War buttons of my two digging partners, both now long deceased. All of their Rev War buttons were French buttons with no British or American buttons. The smaller button is 17mm in size and has a very early double ring on the front. These 3 buttons I'm selling came from Rip Berraine's collection (died of cancer). We extensively hunted the Toano, Phoebus, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Hampton, Gloucester Point and Gloucester Courthouse areas for many decades. These 3 buttons I'm selling were dug near Colonial Williamsburg in the late 1980's by Rip. Here's what the gifted Troiani says about the #15 regimental-numbered buttons. "Bourbonnais Regiment, (yellow), from May 21, 1776, until Feb 21, 1779, when assumed number 13. It can be assumed that finds made of 15th buttons are older buttons of this regiment still in use in 1781 [Yorktown Campaign]. Number assigned to the Bearn regiment (yellow buttons) after 1779." This therefore dates my 3 buttons to 1779 or earlier. The large button on the left with the light brown patina and early double ring has a very early 4-holed shank with flat top and rather crude construction compared to most of my Rev War French buttons. The other large French button with a darker patina and single ring is heavier and has a slightly rounded 4-hole shank. According to research done by painter and collector Keith Rocco, these large buttons were worn on the coat-tail of the jacket, NOT the front of the blouse, whereas the smaller buttons were worn on the front breast of the blouse, usually in 3 rows. I stand corrected since I thought the large buttons were only coat buttons worn on the breast. These three buttons come in a small 3.5 " by 2.5 " by 3/4 inch "Sgt Riker" glass-fronted case ready to display.
Price: 499 USD
Location: Bedford, Virginia
End Time: 2024-08-31T17:43:43.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Conflict: Revolutionary War (1775-83)
Original/Reproduction: Original
Theme: Militaria
Country/Region of Manufacture: France
