Political Memorabilia
Political Campaign Pins: Collector’s Guide
Campaign pins have a long role in American political material culture. Their collector interest can come from design, campaign context, candidate, event, age or provenance.
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Pins versus buttons
Terminology varies, but collectors often distinguish enamel or metal lapel pins from printed celluloid-style campaign buttons and badges.
Document before cleaning
For older items, photograph condition and markings before attempting cleaning. Aggressive cleaning can damage surfaces and erase useful evidence.
Use reliable references
Museum collection records can help establish terminology and historical context, but they do not authenticate an unrelated item you own.